Surf instructor yanked off board, bitten by shark off Florida beach
Sam Hollis said he was bitten on his foot while surfing off New Smyrna Beach, about 60 miles northeast of Orlando.
He told NBC affiliate WESH about his frightening experience.
Hollis said he was instructing when a big wave washed over him. He said he got back on his board, letting his feet hang in the water, when he was attacked.
"It just grabbed me by my foot and just yanked me off my board and was like, yeah, I'm having you for a little snack man. And then I was like having none of that so I kicked it." Hollis said.
Hollis said the kick knocked the shark away from his body, and he was able to swim away. He was taken to the hospital where he was treated for bite marks on his foot.
"So this is what it feels like. I was like, this is what feeling attacked by a shark feels like," he said.
Hollis said he's been around the water since he was a little kid and knows the risks that come with surfing.
"There's no reason to stop doing something you love just because something bad happened to you," he said.
He said as soon as he recovers, he'll be back out on the water.
"That's the first thing I want, to get back out to doing because I think it's important to not let something like this dictate doing things that you love," Hollis said.
This is the third reported shark encounter off the coast of New Smyrna Beach in just over a month.
A surfer said an airborne spinner shark knocked him off his board in June.
In July, another surfer was bitten on the arm by a shark, saying he "felt it clamp down like a bear trap out of nowhere."
New Smyrna Beach is known as the "Shark Bite Capital of the World."
It's been the site of more than 300 shark attacks since the 1980s, according to the International Shark Attack File in Gainesville.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Boy, 7, Loses Part of His Leg and Suffers 'Long and Deep Wounds' in Shark Attack
A 7-year-old boy lost part of his leg in a shark attack while swimming with several other children. The incident occurred at Taiohae Bay in Nuku Hiva, an island in French Polynesia, on Friday, July 25, according to the Agence France-Presse (APF), per Macau Business and 24 News. The young boy was playing in the water with about 10 other children when he was bitten on his right forearm and left hand, as well as one of his calves, which was torn off, The Sun reported. The child was rushed to a local hospital and then airlifted to the larger French Polynesia Hospital Center (CHPF), located about 930 miles from Nuku Hiva. PEOPLE reached out to the French Polynesia Hospital Center (CHPF) for comment on Sunday, July 27, but did not receive an immediate response. A firefighter who assisted on the scene told the AFP that he had never seen anything like the attack. 'I'm 35 years old, and this is the first time I've seen this. These were long and deep wounds,' he said, per Macau Business and 24 News. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. 'It's probably related to the fish carcasses that fishermen throw in this area,' the firefighter continued, adding, 'There are many sharks, such as blacktips, hammerheads, and lemon sharks.' French Polynesia is home to over 30 shark species, according to Forbes. A recent study that surveyed over 60 years of shark bites in the region found that many attacks were triggered by human behaviors, like spearfishing and harpooning, and were often a defensive response, the outlet Bay is a popular spot for local fishermen, as well as cruise ships and sailboats, according to a Nuku Hiva tourism site. The surrounding area is known for its many waterfalls, scenic hikes and rich cultural heritage. Read the original article on People
Fox News
an hour ago
- Fox News
Reps. Massie, Khanna sound off on whether Ghislaine Maxwell should receive pardon, blast Mike Johnson
Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., and Ro Khanna, D-Ca., revealed on Sunday what they think of the Justice Department's interviews with convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell, and whether she should receive a pardon. "If she has information that could help us, then I think she should testify. Let's get that out there and [do] whatever they need to do to compel that testimony as long as it's truthful," Massie told NBC "Meet the Press" host Kristen Welker. DOJ Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche met with Maxwell on Thursday and Friday in the Attorney General of Tallahassee, Florida's office, after she allegedly initiated contact with the department. Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for conspiring with Jeffrey Epstein to sexually abuse minors. Pressure on the Trump administration to release the so-called Epstein files has mounted in recent weeks after the DOJ released a two-page memo asserting that the evidence the federal government compiled did not contain a "client list" and that there was no "credible evidence" that the New York financier had blackmailed other prominent individuals. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said that some interpreted it as saying that a "client list" was "sitting on my desk." The AG later denied that she was referring to a client list and instead claimed she was referring to the Epstein case files. Much of the MAGA base was skeptical of the DOJ's claim and has demanded further transparency. The two representatives introduced the "Epstein Files Transparency Act" on July 15, which, if passed, would compel the federal government to release all the "Epstein files." Speaker Mike Johnson has opposed votes on Epstein-related legislation, and called the House to an early recess until September in order to avoid a floor vote on the legislation. When questioned if Maxwell should be pardoned or receive a commutation in exchange for her cooperating with the DOJ, Massie said that it would be up to the president. Khanna, however, came out sharply against such a deal. "I'm concerned that the Deputy Attorney General, Todd Blanch, is meeting with her supposedly one-on-one. Look, I agree with Congressman Massey that she should testify, but she's been indicted twice on perjury. This is why we need the files," Khanna said. Massie blasted Johnson for refusing to allow a vote on his bill, and warned that Republicans could suffer in the midterms if they fail to deliver transparency to the public on the Epstein issue. Johnson, for his part, has accused Massie of playing "political games" with the Epstein files. "I don't understand Thomas Massie's motivation, I really don't… It's interesting to me that he chose the election of Donald Trump, to bring this, to team up with the Democrats to bring this discharge petition… We're for maximum transparency, we're engaged in that right now, and we don't need political games," Johnson told reporters last week.
CBS News
an hour ago
- CBS News
Police send tactical units to look for suspects behind armed carjacking Sunday morning
Miami police to reports of an armed carjacking around 2 a.m. on SW 17th Avenue and 5th Street. Officers found the car a few blocks away. The suspect had fled after hitting a building. Police established a perimeter and began looking for the suspect. Nick Acosta Drove by a mangled car inside a perimeter on 22nd avenue this morning. "The front of it is just imploded into the hood," Acosta said. Miami police were looking for who was behind what they called an armed carjacking. "I'm stunned to hear that. When I found out that that's what it's about I was honestly shocked because when I was driving part the angle that they hit it they had to be clearly deviated," Acosta said. The road is open up again. Police said no one was hurt and they are still investigating the circumstances behind all this. Cops were out in full tactical gear looking for those that were behind this incident. Acosta says that's not the first time he's seen this kind of police activity around here. "Force meeting force always makes me more concerned quite frankly. I know you need to resolve these kinds of issues," Acosta said. Miami police say three subjects were detained. CBS News Miami cameras captured two different people being placed in the back of patrol cars. But police haven't said if any arrests have been made yet.
