Fisherman shares gruesome picture after terrifying shark attack
A fisherman has shared a gruesome picture taken moments after a terrifying shark attack that nearly tore his leg off. WARNING: Graphic
WARNING: Graphic
A man has been pictured grinning with his leg covered in blood after he survived an attack from a bull shark that tried to rip off his foot.
Chance Armand was taking a dip while out spearfishing off the coast of Florida on Saturday when he saw the shark’s shadow and was forced to swim for his life.
The beast sank its teeth into Mr Armand’s leg as he swam about 32km offshore of the Pensacola Pass.
“By the time I acknowledged he wasn’t gonna turn around, it was too late,” Mr Armand told Fox affiliate WALA.
He told WALA he was familiar with sharks and often saw them fishing, but was surprised when the beast went after him.
“I didn’t really have time to, you know, react … besides putting my knee between myself and the shark,” he said.
Mr Armand said after the shark bit his knee, it turned around and swam back down.
He then raced to the boat, where his friends pulled him up to help.
“We were able to fashion a makeshift tourniquet out of a T-shirt, a speargun band and a fillet knife,” Mr Armand said.
Then the group took a picture of Mr Armand, posing just minutes after his leg was nearly ripped off.
In the picture, Mr Armand is grinning with his tongue out as he holds up his leg, which is covered in blood and with a tourniquet.
He said that he couldn’t feel pain from the shark bite at first, and that he could only feel pressure from the attack.
In a Facebook post, Mr Armand also shared graphic pictures of the fresh wound around his left knee.
“Spicy bull shark decided he wanted my fish too on my way up from a dive today,” he wrote in the post.
“Couldn’t have asked for better people to help me out in the moment.
“Love what we do but definitely a reminder to soak up every moment with your family and friends because (a) routine day can be your last.”
He also shared pictures of himself recovering in a hospital bed.
Mr Armand said once the spearfishing group had mobile phone service, they called 911.
First responders met the boat on the dock and he was quickly taken to a nearby hospital.
“By the grace of God, there was no tendon damage, no bone damage, no artery damage, it’s just one giant, gnarly flesh wound,” Mr Armand said.
The fisherman said he will be sure to have a tourniquet ready the next time he takes to the sea.
This article originally appeared in The Sun and was reproduced with permission
Originally published as Fisherman shares gruesome picture after terrifying shark attack
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