A man who was bit by a shark while spearfishing off Key West spoke out from his hospital bed. NBC6’s Kim Wynne reports
Body camera footage shows a man being taken to the hospital after he was bit by a bull shark while spearfishing off Key West.
The incident happened at around 3:40 p.m. Monday, while the victim, 37-year-old Jose Abreu Hernandez, was spearfishing at Toppino Buoy, according to the Monroe County Sheriff's Office.
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Witnesses said Abreu shot a fish and was bringing it to the boat when an 8-foot bull shark attempted to get the fish, according to an incident report.
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The bull shark then bit Abreu twice on the lower left leg and then attempted to bite his torso but only bit his rashguard, the report said. He was also bit in the shoulder.
"You don’t have time to be scared," Abreu said from his hospital bed Tuesday. "Only you need to escape the shark. It’s the only option."
The bodycam showed paramedics preparing Abreu, who had a deep and large wound on his leg, before airlifting him to Jackson South Medical Center.
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Abreu was alert and responsive at the time of the airlift, but his immediate condition was unclear.
