In Florida, a young man survived two shark attacks. Which occurred in the same place, eleven years apart. This time, he almost passed.
In 2013, Cole Taschman was 16 years old. He was attacked while swimming near a reef off Bathroom Beach in Stuart, eastern Florida. A shark had torn off a piece of his right hand.
The man, who lives there, has however never lost his passion for the ocean. Last month, he was back in the water again, in pretty much the same spot as 11 years ago. He was surfing with two friends when he was bitten.
He saw what he thinks was a bull shark or a tiger shark. One of its feet was then caught between the teeth of the more than 2 meter long animal. “I was bitten! I have to get out of the water!” he shouted, reports “The Independent”.
The shark lets go and Cole Taschman, helped by his two friends, manages to return to shore, where his girlfriend is also waiting for him. It bleeds subscription. The shark actually bit him on both feet.
Those close to him use straps and make a tourniquet to try to limit the bleeding. Then they decide that the most effective way is to transport him to the hospital themselves, as quickly as possible.
During the journey, which only lasts about ten minutes, the surfer keeps losing consciousness briefly. His friends splashed him with water and gave him light slaps to keep him awake, CNN reports. Cole Taschman remembers feeling like he was “leaving.”
Finally, he was taken care of in a local hospital and then, after the first urgent treatments, transferred to a facility in Palm Beach.
Tendons were cut, like tissues and muscles. It took two operations and 93 stitches to save his feet, not counting the numerous staples, summarizes the American press.
He is now back home. But he is far from finished. His girlfriend started crowdfunding online. She notes that he almost lost both his feet and writes, “he is currently in a wheelchair and has a long road to recovery.” He will not be able to work for three months.
According to the doctor who operated on him, convalescence should last six months. And afterward, sharks or not, Cole Taschman is determined to return to the ocean waves.
