Chris Carroll, a 56-year-old nurse and former lifeguard, dove into St. Croix waters thinking a swimmer was drowning, only to discover Arlene Lillis had been attacked by a shark. Carroll helped pull her from the water and guided emergency crews on stabilizing her for a transfusion, but she later died of massive blood loss. The tragedy deeply affected Carroll, who returned to diving despite his fear and found some comfort when Arlene's family emphasized she was not alone at the end.
Nurse Who Dove In to Help Thought It Was a Drowning — Then Saw Blood and Realized It Was a Shark Attack
Chris Carroll running into the water, where woman is pointing, to save Arlene Lillis.Credit: Courtesy of Christopher Carroll
Chris Carroll, a 56-year-old registered nurse and former lifeguard, was relaxing on his hotel balcony in St. Croix after a day of scuba diving when he heard frantic shouts from the beach below. Visitors were yelling for lifeguards, Carroll — visiting from Utah with his wife, Michelle — later told PEOPLE. He immediately assumed someone was drowning and sprang into action.
Carroll soon learned the warnings were about a shark sighting. Unaware of the danger, 56-year-old Arlene Lillis of Minnesota had been snorkeling with her husband, Richard, at Dorsch Beach — a favorite spot for the couple — when she was attacked roughly 50 to 75 yards from shore. Because both had their heads underwater, they did not hear beachgoers urging swimmers to leave the water; Richard only discovered what had happened after returning to their spot on shore and being told by police.
On left, Chris Carroll and wife Michelle in St. CroixCredit: Courtesy of Christopher Carroll
Rescue Effort
Carroll, who is also the director of surgical services at Holy Cross Hospital – Mountain Point in Lehi, Utah, dove into the water thinking he was responding to a drowning. When he reached Arlene and asked, "Are you OK?" he saw blood and immediately realized it was a shark attack. Despite the likelihood the shark could still be nearby, Carroll said he could not leave her.
With help from other beachgoers, Carroll and bystanders pulled Arlene to shore. He helped emergency personnel by describing the severity and location of her injuries and advising what would be needed to stabilize her for an urgent transfusion after massive blood loss. The Virgin Islands Police Department later reported that Arlene died of her injuries.
Chris Carroll at Holy Cross Hospital, part of the CommonSpirit Health network, in Utah.Credit: Courtesy of CommonSpirit Health
Aftermath and Reflection
The couple had become separated underwater when Arlene paused to inspect something and Richard continued north along the reef. In the days after her death, Richard remembered Arlene as a "sweet wife, mother and grandmother" and later scattered her ashes at sea.
The incident weighed heavily on Carroll. He had a scheduled scuba class the next day and knew that avoiding the water might prevent him from ever returning, so he went — though he admitted he kept looking over his shoulder during subsequent dives. About two days after Arlene's death, Carroll received a call from her daughter, who checked on him and apologized for what he had endured. Her words — that Arlene "hated to be alone" and that someone had been with her at the end — offered Carroll comfort.
Carroll: "I wish I could have done more but that wasn't the case. I just want people to remember we're all connected — you probably won't be asked to swim out to someone attacked by a shark, but you can always reach out to people who are struggling."
The account and Carroll's comments were first reported by PEOPLE. Photographs of Carroll and his wife were provided by CommonSpirit Health.
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