A fisherman, identified only as “Nick,” was attacked by a shark and dragged off his boat in Everglades National Park, Florida. The incident was captured in a video that went viral.
The footage captured the man standing close to the water when, without warning, a shark surged out, seizing him and dragging him under the surface. His companions, clearly terrified, screamed as he fought to regain his footing on the boat, leaving a trail of blood.
Park rangers responded quickly, and the man was airlifted by Miami-Dade Fire Rescue to a hospital on Friday, June 23.
Further details of the shocking incident were provided via an Instagram post, by a fishing guide named Michael Russo, who was present on the boat at the time of the attack.
Russo narrated the terrifying experience, stating that after releasing a snook, his friend Nick was washing his hands in the water when he was suddenly attacked by a large lemon shark. Russo stressed that there was no chum or blood in the water, suggesting that the shark’s aggression was unprovoked.
As seen in the video, Nick released a fish back into the water before dipping his hands back in. As he leaned over the edge a second time, a large gray shark sprang out from the water, grabbed onto his hand, and dragged him into the water, causing his hand to collide with the side of the boat.
Details about the severity of Nick’s injuries have not been made public. However, Russo revealed that Nick was transported via helicopter to Jackson South Medical Center where he is now receiving treatment.
The National Park Service commented on the incident, “While shark bites are extremely uncommon in Everglades National Park, we always recommend visitors take caution around park wildlife.”
