A Florida spearfisherman recently shared an astonishing photo of himself, smiling despite suffering significant injuries from a shark attack.
Chance Armand was all smiles, showing off a thumbs-up gesture, even as he dealt with the aftermath of a terrifying encounter on Sunday. His left leg bore the brunt of the attack and was tightly wrapped with a makeshift tourniquet.
Armand had been fishing in the Pensacola area when an eight-foot bull shark suddenly charged at him. “It was too late to turn away,” he recalled, adding that he barely had time to react, other than to kneel to create some distance.
Fortunately, the shark bit his knee, perhaps mistaking it for something else, and swam away. Armand managed to get back to his boat, where his friends quickly helped him by using items like t-shirts and speargun bands to fashion a tourniquet.
While they were assisting him, he struck a playful pose for a photo, and later, even smiled wider while in the hospital. “By God’s grace, there’s no tendon, bone, or artery damage,” he mentioned, referring to his injuries as a “massive, terrible flesh wound.”
Surprisingly, he was discharged from the hospital in less than 24 hours. As an experienced spearfisherman, Armand knows the risks that come with his hobby. He plans to return to fishing soon, but is committed to ensuring that his boat is equipped with better first aid supplies next time.
He reflected on the experience with a poignant note on social media: “I love what we do, but as a daily day can be your last, it’s a reminder to soak up every moment with family and friends.”
