A teenage surfer who survived a shark attack on a Florida beach said: “It could have been much worse.”
According to Fox35 Orlando, 16-year-old Teddy Witteman was bitten last Friday at Floridana Beach in Brevard County when he went underwater to retrieve his surfboard.
“I can see him shaking his head and writhing around inside my arms and along my body,” Witteman told the station.
“I could have lost an arm,” he added. “I might not have been able to use a finger or move my wrist. [This] It could have been much worse. ”
Florida named shark attack capital of the world
Teddy Witteman appears to be recovering after being bitten by a shark in Florida last week. (Courtesy: Teddy Wittemann/WOFL)
Witteman managed to return to shore after being attacked by the shark and is now recovering after spending time in a local hospital.
“My first thought was, 'Will I ever be able to compete in a surfing contest again?'” the aspiring pro surfer told Fox35 Orlando after saying he plans to return to the water once his left arm heals. Ta.
Her father, Ted, said the family is “just praying that we don't get infected.”
Tourist loses leg and dies after shark attack off Canary Islands
Teddy Witteman said the shark bit him on the inside of his left arm. (Fox35 Orlando)
According to the Florida Museum of Natural History's International Shark Attack File, the most unprovoked shark attacks in the world occur in the Sunshine State, specifically in Volusia County, but as of May 2024, 351 attacks have occurred since 1882. are.
Brevard County, where Witteman was bitten, borders Volusia County, with 158 attacks, followed by Palm Beach with 83.
Most of the shark bite victims last year were surfing or participating in board sports, according to the International Shark Attack File.
Teddy Witteman is an aspiring professional surfer. (Credit: Teddy Wittemann/Fox 35 Orlando)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
42% of attacks in 2023 were due to surfing/board sports.
FOX News' Ashlyn Messier contributed to this report.
