A Florida man is recovering after falling off a fishing boat and being attacked by a shark at a Bahamian marina last month.
Marlin Wakeman, 24, of Stuart, said at a news conference Thursday at St. Mary’s Medical Center in West Palm Beach that she plans to return to the Bahamas and the ocean as soon as possible.
“You might have nightmares here and there, but you’ll be fine,” Wakeman said.
On April 26, Wakeman tried to jump onto a moored boat that was being worked on at Flying Fish Marina on Long Island.
He said at least 20 sharks swim around the marina at any given time, attracted by discarded fish carcasses.
Wakeman slipped and fell into the shark-infested water, and seconds later was bitten on the leg by what he believed to be a Caribbean white shark.
Before he could get out of the water, another shark hit him in the shoulder.
Wakeman said the boat captain placed a tourniquet on his leg before taking him to a medical clinic.
He was then flown to Florida for surgery at St. Mary’s Hospital.
Dr. Robert Borrego said the shark only pierced Wakeman’s kneecap and missed an artery.
Trauma surgeons estimated the shark was about 7 feet long based on the size of the bite mark.
Borrego said he expects Wakeman to make a full recovery.
