A 17-year-old boy was rushed to the hospital after being bitten by a shark while attempting to haul the animal onto a boat off the coast of Texas. The incident occurred on Monday at approximately 3:15 p.m. local time near Galveston, a city situated on the Gulf Coast.
The teenager was on a boat with his father and another individual when the attack happened. According to the Galveston County Sheriff's Office, the boy was trying to bring the shark on board when the animal bit him. The father immediately applied a tourniquet to stem the bleeding, and emergency rescue crews later applied a second tourniquet upon arrival.
Coast Guard Response
The U.S. Coast Guard was called for assistance after reports of the shark bite came in. The Coast Guard confirmed that the teen was "alert and conscious" when they reached him. He was subsequently transported to a nearby hospital for treatment.
The trio had been offshore for several hours before contacting authorities when their boat became disabled near the South Galveston jetties while returning to the Galveston Yacht Basin.
Shark Species and Injuries
Officials have not yet identified the species of shark involved in the incident. The teen's current condition and further details regarding his injuries have not been made public. The U.S. Coast Guard did not immediately respond to requests for comment, and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department was also contacted for additional information.
This attack adds to a series of recent shark incidents, including a fatal attack on a spearfisher in Australia and a suspected shark attack that killed a Minnesota woman in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
