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An eight-year-old boy was bitten by a shark on Monday while snorkeling and free diving with his father and sister at Horseshoe Reef, off the coast of Key Largo, Florida.
The attack occurred around 3:24 p.m. and required urgent transfer by helicopter to the Ryder Trauma Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami.
According to the Monroe County Sheriff's Office, the minor suffered multiple injuries: a bite above the knee that caused significant blood loss, and other injuries on the arm.
He was surgically intervened the same night of the incident, but so far no public information has been given regarding his current health status.
Immediate help at sea
The child's father called for help after the attack, and a nearby dive boat, operated by Horizon Divers, responded immediately.
The crew provided first aid and accompanied the family back to Garden Cove Marina, where a medical team from the air service Trauma Star was already awaiting them.
According to the audio from the emergency dispatch -broadcasted by Broadcastify- the child was "pale" and his injury was described as "significant."
The rescuers applied two tourniquets and compression bandages to stop the bleeding before the airlift.
Investigations and notifications
After the attack, local authorities notified the U.S. Coast Guard and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), following the protocol for incidents involving dangerous marine wildlife.
No additional measures or restrictions have been announced in the affected diving area.
Another case in the Keys
This incident adds to other encounters with sharks that have occurred in the Florida Keys.
In July 2024, José Abreu Hernández, 37 years old, was bitten by a bull shark while spear fishing near a reef in Key West.
He was evacuated on the same helicopter as Trauma Star and survived after several medical interventions.
Shark attacks in Florida remain infrequent, but recent cases have raised concerns among residents and visitors engaging in water activities in the area.
So far, the identity of the minor has not been revealed, nor details about their recovery after the surgery.
The Sheriff's Office has restricted information while the patient's medical monitoring continues.
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