This incident hasn't been added to the Global Shark Attack File (GSAF) yet. Details are reconstructed from the news articles listed below.
See 8 sourcesOn or around January 9, 2026, a woman from Minnesota died following a shark attack in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The incident occurred at what multiple sources described as a popular tourist destination within the territory. Authorities confirmed the death was the result of the shark encounter.
According to reporting by several outlets, the victim sustained at least one severe bite, with one source indicating the loss of an arm. The injuries proved fatal. No information regarding the victim's age, the specific site within the U.S. Virgin Islands, the activity she was engaged in at the time, or the species of shark involved was confirmed across the available sources.
The U.S. Virgin Islands is an unincorporated territory of the United States located in the northeastern Caribbean Sea, east of Puerto Rico. The territory is a frequent destination for tourism, including water-based recreational activities.
Shark Attack Incident
January 12, 2026
News articles cited in this synthesis. Click any to open the original.
The Guardian · Google News · Jan 12, 2026
FOX6 News Milwaukee · Google News · Jan 10, 2026
FOX 7 Austin · Google News · Jan 10, 2026
FOX Weather · Google News · Jan 10, 2026
Star Tribune · Google News · Jan 9, 2026
The New York Times · Google News · Jan 9, 2026
CBS News · Google News · Jan 9, 2026
NBC News · Google News · Jan 9, 2026