Surfer nearly loses his arm after shark attack in Florida
Dramatic video captured the moment Matt Bender, 40, of Orlando, was bandaged up as blood gushed from his limb.
The surfer was riding the waves at around 3pm on Sunday when he was mauled by the shark.
The video shows the chaotic moments after the attack as beachgoers rushed to help.
Blood can be seen on Bender's arm as his hand appears to be hanging on by a string as a fellow surfers wrap it in towels and attempt to calm him down.
'I felt it clamp down like a bear trap out of nowhere,' he told Fox affiliate WOFL–TV.
He said it felt like 'electricity' when the shark bit into his right forearm.
'I never saw the shark, but it bit really forcefully. It felt like electricity.'
Bender was rushed to a nearby hospital and is now in recovery, his friends said.
Despite the gruesome photos of his savaged arm, his friends shut down rumors that his hand had been completely bitten off.
They shared on Facebook: 'Our good friend and fellow waterman Matt Bender was bit by a shark today while surfing in New Smyrna.
'Contrary to what's said in this video clip that's circulating, his hand was not bitten off - he's doing good considering, but he was injured and needs our support and prayers right now.'
'Matt is a strong, godly man and part of our surf family - so we're asking all our Raw Surf friends and fans to lift him up in prayer tonight. Let's cover him in love and healing energy as he begins to recover.'
In July 2024, New Smyrna Beach was named America's deadliest beach - mainly due to hurricane fatalities - and has also been dubbed the 'shark bite capital' of the world.
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