WEST PALM BEACH, FLA. (WSVN) - Several shark attack survivors, all treated at St. Mary’s Medical Center in West Palm Beach, have come together to share the harrowing tales of their shark encounters and their incredible stories of survival and resilience as they continue to heal from their non-life-threatening injuries.
There’s a certain connection shark bite survivors have with each other, as well as the medical team that assisted them that day, making this reunion all the more meaningful to those in attendance.
The news conference came a day after a man was attacked by a shark on Hollywood Beach on Tuesday.
“We have someone here that got eaten by something in the ocean,” a caller on the beach told authorities.
“Male with laceration to the arm, severe bleeding,” a dispatcher said over Broadcastify.
He managed to get himself out of the water where he received treatment.
“They were able to apply a tourniquet. He was conscious and alert,” said Hollywood Fire Rescue spokesperson Chai Kauffman. “They were able to take him to Memorial Regional [Hospital].”
The victim in that attack is said to be recovering in the hospital.
Several survivors like him spoke at a press conference on Wednesday, where those who escaped said the incident transpired when they were spearfishing, swimming or surfing.
“I was basically going to get back on my [surf] board, and I kind of kicked my feet, and I thought I kicked something, and the shark was actually biting my foot,” said Bert Kerrs, a survivor.
“I was playing around in the water, and it decided to come up and bite me from behind. I did kick it away,” said River Carney, a young survivor.
“Well, nine times out of 10, it’s mistaken identity for people who get bit, you know, sharks, they don’t come after people, it’s not on their diet,” said Jeff Joel, another survivor.
“I got hit on my right side, and I kind of knew it was a shark because it had real sharp skin, it felt like it was biting me. It was just its skin rubbing against my body,” said another survivor.
Michael Raich was spearfishing last week when he got bit.
“And he grabbed my elbow, he kind of shook it for a couple of seconds and then released me,” said Raich.
Some of those who spoke at the event were bitten as far back as six months ago, and others were visibly on the mend as they could be seen wearing a cast or with bandages wrapped around their injuries.
In one unique instance, a man said he was trying to free a shark that was stuck when he got bit.
“I was actually trying to help the shark. Its head was caught in a fish stringer, and I was trying to get it out and I did, she got released. She got away but she got me too,” he said.
Sam Hollis, who was bitten by a shark while surfing on New Smyrna Beach, said the fear of a shark attack shouldn’t stop people from doing what they love.
“There’s no reason to stop doing something you love just because something bad happened to you,” said Hollis.
Only one person remains hospitalized, but they are expected to be released Wednesday. The exact details of their shark attack is unknown.
While shark bites are interesting and typically garner one’s attention, a doctor at the hospital said, statistically speaking, that an individual is more likely to be injured by a fallen coconut in the state of Florida than be bitten by a shark.
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