A tourist from Hertfordshire has been seriously injured in a shark attack in the Caribbean.

The attack took place off the coast of Trinidad and Tobago leaving the man in intensive care.

Peter Smith, 64, was attacked 10 metres off the shore near the Starfish Hotel in Courland Bay on the north coast of Tobago on Friday morning.

He remains in intensive care at a hospital on the island, having suffered damage to his left arm and leg, puncture wounds to the abdomen, and injuries to his right hand, according to his wife, Jo Smith.

She told the BBC in a statement: "Peter is aware of what is happening and is able to communicate a little, although he is still under strong medication."

She also thanked "all those that assisted at the scene, and especially the two friends that remained in the water to battle the shark".

The shark appeared to be a bull shark, around 8-10ft long and 2ft wide, according to the Tobago House of Assembly.

The couple, from Hertfordshire, had been holidaying on the Caribbean island with friends and were due to fly home on the same day the attack took place.