A Texas teenager is recovering after a barracuda attacked her hand while she was vacationing in Turks and Caicos. Claire Macdonel, 13, was swimming in shallow waters on Sunday, July 19, when the incident occurred.
Her mother, Jen Macdonel, told Fox News Digital that the fish likely mistook the teen's shiny bracelet for prey, attracted by the way it reflected sunlight in the clear water. "She probably just looked like a disco ball," Jen Macdonel said.
The barracuda's bite resulted in lacerations to four of Claire's tendons, as well as damage to a nerve and a ligament. She underwent surgery on Wednesday to repair the injuries. "She could have easily lost her whole hand or fingers or worse," her mother stated.
Claire described the moments of the attack, recounting feeling a strong pressure before seeing her hand bleeding profusely. "I saw my hand bleeding a lot, and I said, 'Mom, something bit me. I don't know what to do.'" She later saw a "big silver tail" behind her and felt very scared.
A nurse who was in the vicinity at the time helped Claire by applying a tourniquet to her injured hand while her mother managed the immediate aftermath. Jen Macdonel described the nurse as an "angel" who "really saved the day."
Despite the traumatic experience, Claire has maintained her love for marine life and is already planning a return trip to the island. "She's already planning our next trip so we can have a redo because we love the island, and she loves the water," her mother said. Claire also expressed increased curiosity about the ocean, stating, "Ever since I got this bite, it has actually made me want to discover the ocean even more... I'm even more curious about what's inside the ocean and what behavior it has."
Yannis Papastamatiou, an associate professor in biological sciences at Florida International University, explained that barracudas typically remain still and wait for prey. He noted that while they respond quickly to anything perceived as prey, attacks on humans are rare. "For the most part, we are clearly much too large to be considered prey," Papastamatiou said. "But if you are wearing anything shiny, they may perceive that as the movement of a smaller fish and respond."
Papastamatiou advised that "the main thing is I would avoid wearing anything reflective like jewelry" when swimming in the ocean. He also recommended avoiding sudden movements if a barracuda is sighted, as their vision is not as acute as humans', and they might mistake a hand for small prey. He reiterated that barracuda bites are infrequent.
The incident occurred while Turks and Caicos is under a U.S. State Department Level 2 travel advisory, which advises travelers to "Exercise Increased Caution" due to reports of assaults, petty crime, and scams targeting tourists.