His family said that a 10-year-old boy had amputated part of his leg after being bitten by a shark in Florida’s Keys.
Jameson Reeder Jr. was attacked Saturday afternoon, Aug. 13, in the Looe Key reef, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said.
The young boy, who was out on a boat with his family, was snorkeling in the shallow reef when he was “attacked” in the leg by what appeared to be “a bulldog shark” measuring more than 2.4 m, his uncle Joshua Reeder said on Facebook.
Jameson Reeder Jr. “miraculously” managed to cling to a floating foam stick and was rescued by family members, who applied a tourniquet to his leg, Joshua Reeder added.
Taken care of in Miami, the boy had to be amputated below the knee.
“He is now out of surgery and resting,” wrote his uncle.
A high number of shark attacks on the coast of New York State has raised fears in the United States this summer, but the risk of being bitten by this animal remains low.
In Florida, the situation can vary significantly from year to year, but globally, about 75 shark attacks are still recorded yearly. The number of deaths is around five.
Recent research has shown that sharks, which do not intentionally attack humans, may mistake surfers or swimmers for their usual prey.
In the United States, most attacks occur on Florida’s Atlantic coast.
Comment here