Oakland Park teen emerges from ocean with shark locked onto abdomen
An Oakland Park teen who went swimming at the beach Thursday emerged with a nurse shark latched onto his abdomen.
A well-aimed punch by a Broward Fire-Rescue lieutenant forced the 3- to 4-foot-long shark to release its grip before it could do any serious damage to the teen.
Brandon Chapman, 14, was treated and released at Broward Medical Center on Thursday evening for minor injuries from the shark.
The Broward Sheriff's Office said Chapman was in about three feet of water at Anglin's Fishing Pier in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea when the shark went after him just before 5 p.m. Thursday.
Someone at the fishing pier called the police about a shark attack, and officers arrived with fire-rescue personnel, who considered using an ax and a "Jaws of Life" extrication tool to separate the teen from the shark.
Fire Rescue Lt. Rob Melendez delivered the punch to the shark's nose that forced it to release its grip.
"The shark was tossed back into the ocean and quickly swam away," the Sheriff's Office said.
A live report at 9:36am with the boy, there were more details given.
He looked down and saw that a shark was tangled in some netting. Went to help the shark, who got mad and latched onto the left side of his stomach. This was for about 30 minutes, that he was struggling to get it off him. Having the shark resting on his back, he made his way back to the shore; rescue was called. Nothing would get the shark to let go. The rescue crew did consider an ax. It's eyes and gills were poked. And a teen hit the nose and tried to pry the jaws open, at which the shark did let go. Then they let it back into the ocean.
The reporter joked that it was like a 'shark hickie' as they are suckers. As it is not a bite but a raw looking sore in a oval shape, which does hurt.
The teen says this will not prevent him from going swimming again in the ocean.
Interesting the difference from the person who it happened to and what gets printed.
More articles Sun-Sentinel.com 5:53 AM EDT, September 14, 2007
posted by LadyIrene @ 9/14/2007 08:32:00 AM
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