A British man has been seriously injured after being attacked by a shark on the Caribbean island of Tobago.

The 64-year-old is receiving critical care after serious injuries to his left arm, left leg and stomach, according to a local official.

He said he had been attacked 10 metres off the shore in Courland Bay, the island’s north coast, at 09:15 (14:15 BST) on Friday.

The Foreign Office said it was supporting the victim’s family.

The incident involved a bull shark estimated to be eight to 10 ft (2.4m to 3m) long, and 2ft (60cm) wide according to a statement by the Tobago House of Assembly’s chief secretary Farley Augustine.

In a detailed Facebook post, he said the victim was being cared for at Scarborough General Hospital, and listed the injuries sustained as: “Left hand severed from elbow down. Left thigh severed. Laceration to stomach.”

Eyewitness Orion Jakerov, water sports manager at the nearby Starfish Hotel, said other people in the water were “physically trying to fight off the shark”.

He told the local broadcaster TTT Live: “I don’t think they saw it. They were about waist height in the water so they weren’t out of their depth.

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

Authorities closed seven beaches along the coast as well as the nearby Buccoo Reef Marine Park tourist attraction as a precaution after the incident.

Mr Augustine said: “Unfortunately, a visitor to the island was attacked by shark earlier this morning in the vicinity of the Starfish Hotel.

“The Chief Secretary has spoken to the British High Commissioner.”