Health update issued on British tourist left fighting for life after shark attack near shore

A British tourist that was left in critical condition following a shark attack is now 'able to communicate', his wife says.

Peter Smith, 64, was in the island of Tobago in the Caribbean, when he was attacked by a shark just 10 metres from shore at Turtle Beach.

The Brit was immediately taken to Scarborough General Hospital following the incident, and had a severed thigh and hand as well as a laceration on his stomach.

This was followed by the immediate closure of beaches on the northwestern coast of the island, with witnesses claiming that they saw a bull shark, which can be up to 10 feet long.

The Tobago House of Assembly later confirmed this, saying they can be up to two feet wide, as its chief secretary, Farley Augustine, said that Mr Smith had to have fingers reattached after the attached following the incident, as well as 'significant wounds' to one of his legs.

Smith was with his wife Jo and friends when he was attacked, with Mrs Smith revealing that two of their friends stayed in the sea to 'battle' the sea predator.

Two of their friends stayed in the water to 'battle' the shark, Mrs Smith says. (Getty Stock Photo)

She also revealed that her husband is in stable condition while undergoing intensive care at the island's Scarborough General Hospital, where he is stable, telling the BBC: "Peter has suffered damage to his left arm and leg, puncture wounds to the abdomen and injuries to his right hand, the full extent of which are still being evaluated."

The only thing left now is for hospital medics to decide on the 'future course of treatment'.

Mrs Smith further explained: "As of 09:00 local time today, Peter is aware of what is happening and is able to communicate a little, although he is still under strong medication."

She offered thanks to 'all those that assisted at the scene, and especially the two friends that remained in the water to battle the shark'.

Mrs Smith also thanked 'the wonderfully kind people of Tobago for all their help and support'.

Eyewitness Orion Jakerov explained that other people in the water were 'physically trying to fight off the shark'.

"I don't think they saw it. They were about waist height in the water so they weren't out of their depth," he told local broadcaster TTT Live.

Many beachgoers had attempted to fight the shark, an eyewitness said. (Stephen Frink/Getty Images)

"I think their backs were turned and they were just kind of lounging around. Nobody saw the shark coming."

Meanwhile Stephanie Wright, from West Sussex, told The Sun: "We saw some people on the beach, and I originally thought the gentleman had had a cardiac arrest, and I thought they were helping him.

"And then I saw someone running down with a towel, and then I saw a dorsal fin come out of the water and thought, 'Oh my God, it's a shark.'

"As it turned, I saw the tail come out as well. As it swam off."

The government has said that there have been shark sightings in both the Grafton area of the region and in the Buccoo Reef Marine Park and closing the beaches will allow the Coast Guard and Department of Fisheries to investigate the sightings.

The government had also offered a bounty of $10,000 for the shark, but have since retracted the offer.

A Foreign Office spokesperson said: "We are supporting the family of an injured British man in Tobago and are in contact with the local authorities."