A Texas man says he was bitten by a shark, and his wound was infected with a flesh-eating bacteria, according to local reports
Blaine Shelton said he was swimming alone at Crystal Beach when a shark bit his leg earlier in August, KHOU reported.
“I already saw the fin, and I knew it wasn’t a porpoise,” he told KHOU on Aug. 10 about the shark bite. “So I turned around to get out of there, and that’s when he grabbed me by the leg.”
“When I did hear that [my friend’s daughter] saw him behind me is when I stared going, ‘Man, all it would’ve taken, if he would’ve grabbed me one more time, I might not have been able to swim,’” Shelton added. “And in which case, I’m fish bait.”
About a week later, he was diagnosed with flesh-eating bacteria.
“I’d heard there was bacteria in the water, I just never treated it serious. But to tell you the truth, if you’ve got a scratch on your arm or your leg, I wouldn’t get in that water,” Shelton said, according to KSAT on Aug. 25. “And if you do, bring some alcohol with you to clean it the second you get out. It’s nothing to play with.”
Shelton didn’t indicate if his leg would have to be amputated, but he said that he lost some tissue around the wound, according to the report.
“Thank God they’re helping me with the pain because the other day, when I came in, I could hardly walk in there,” Shelton said.
Medical Bills
Shelton, however, said that his medical bills will likely total more than $100,000. He set up a GoFundMe account to help pay them. “I’ve got a $30,000 hospital bill and trying to take care of my elderly parents I’m not able to work Because of my injuries It will take months of healing thank you,” he wrote in the GoFundMe page, which includes a graphic image of his wound.
He added on Aug. 26 in the GoFundMe: “I just want to say thank you for all of your support, I’ve never had the help that all of you have shown and it nice to know that ya’ll came together to help a total stranger. I live my life doing all I can for anyone in need and to see others doing the same makes me want to do more. what ya’ll have done here will not stop here. I’m trying to get around more but I’m not allowed to do much. don’t worry I’m gonna be better than new it will just take a bit. All love!”
Recent Shark Encounters
Meanwhile, earlier this month, a great white shark attacking a seal was recorded off the coast of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, by the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy.
This video (featured below) shows multiple angles of the attack, as well as a clip of the shark swimming underwater with a part of the seal in its mouth. The video was released later in August.
“The research team recorded this close up footage of a seal predation in clear water about 100 yards from the beach off Wellfleet, MA,” said the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy, according to Fox News. The video shows a “rarely seen window into the world of the Atlantic white shark in Cape Cod water,” it said.
From The Epoch Times