American tourists thought she would “die” after the shark attacked her and her friends while swimming in a horrifying incident during a Bahamas holiday.
Summer amateur, 24 and 20, Riley Decker, was paddling in the tropical waters of Bimini Bay on Friday.
As they swam from the side of the boat in a popular resort area 50 miles from the Florida coast, Decker felt something tweak against her, She said to NBC's “Today.” on tuesday.
The two women continued to swim before Decker felt “pulled” by her feet, she said.
“I was a little because I knew at the time,” she said “today” from a hospital bed in Florida.
A friend pulled the pair back into the boat.
The group made a makeshift tourniquet for Decker from the towel and rope, before the legs bend to “shredded” Rayman, she told “today.”
“It was very scary,” she told the host in tears, adding that the pair “feels to think about you're dying now.”
The two were rushed to a Bahamas hospital, where one of the injuries to the woman was listed as “serious.” According to a statement from the royal Bahamas police.
They were later brought back to Florida, where Decker underwent two surgeries.
“The Bimini police are investigating the alleged shark attack involving two female tourists that occurred on Friday, February 7, 2025 at about 6:30pm,” the statement read.
“The initial report showed that both US residents were injured while swimming in the waters of Bimini Bay. They will be airlifted to New Providence for further medical procedures. I had initial treatment at a local clinic before,” the statement continued.
“One of the victim's injuries is listed as serious. An investigation is underway.”
Decker faces another operation and tells NBC News that she will never return to the sea.
“I'll never put my toes in again,” she told “today.”
In the program, Rayman said he was “thank” to bring it to life, adding that she would not return to the water “for a long time.”
The Bahamas are located in the world's top 10 shark attack hotspots just behind Mexico. According to data from the Florida Museum.
Nevertheless, incidents like Friday are still merciless and rare in the island nation, with only 34 unprovoked shark attacks since 1580, according to the same map.
