Thousands deify nature while they deny the God of nature. Though in a different form, idolatry exists in the Christian world today as verily as it existed among ancient Israel in the days of Elijah. The god of many professedly wise men, of philosophers, poets, politicians, journalists—the god of polished fashionable circles, of many colleges and universities, even of some theological institutions—is little better than Baal, the sun-god of Phoenicia. GC 583.1

Kerry Breen

Thu, May 25, 2023 at 4:02 PM GMT+3·1 min read

100-202

An American woman visiting Turks and Caicos is hospitalized in serious condition after being attacked by a shark while snorkeling, police said.

In a news release shared on social media on Wednesday night, the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force said that the unidentified woman, 22, was from Connecticut.

According to additional police reports, she and a friend were snorkeling on Providenciales, the third-largest island in the country.

It’s not clear how the two escaped the shark and returned to shore. Police said that a resort employee called the police around 3:07 p.m. local time to request an ambulance.

“The employee indicated that the female victim had her leg bitten off by a shark,” police said.

• Then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. Matthew 24:10.
• As the storm approaches, a large class who have professed faith in the third angel’s message, but have not been sanctified through obedience to the truth, abandon their position and join the ranks of the opposition. By uniting with the world and partaking of its spirit, they have come to view matters in nearly the same light; and when the test is brought, they are prepared to choose the easy, popular side. Men of talent and pleasing address, who once rejoiced in the truth, employ their powers to deceive and mislead souls. They become the most bitter enemies of their former brethren. When Sabbathkeepers are brought before the courts to answer for their faith, these apostates are the most efficient agents of Satan to misrepresent and accuse them, and by false reports and insinuations to stir up the rulers against them.23
• The season of distress before God’s people will call for a faith that will not falter. His children must make it manifest that He is the only object of their worship, and that no consideration, not even that of life itself, can induce them to make the least concession to false worship. Mar 196.1 – Mar 196.3

The woman was transported to the Cheshire Hall Medical Centre, also on Providenciales, where she remains in what police described as serious condition.

Shark attacks are rare, with the University of Florida’s International Shark Attack File recording only 57 unprovoked shark bites in the world last year. Of those, five were fatal. Experts say most shark attacks are a case of mistaken identity, like a shark mistaking a human for a seal or other prey.

To stay safe in the water, wildlife experts recommend staying close to shore and swimming with a buddy, being careful when swimming on a sandbar or dropoff, being careful not to wear shiny jewelry or high-contrast clothing, which can tempt sharks, and avoid swimming with open wounds or injuries. Swimmers should also avoid being near fishing activities, which can draw sharks, and avoiding murky or cloudy waters, which can disguise an approaching shark. If you see a shark, slowly and calmly make your way back to shore.

Editor’s note: This story has been updated to remove the name of a resort that was previously mentioned by police.