Shark attack in Bahamas leaves two Americans injured
Two Americans were injured in a shark attack in the Bahamas. The incident occurred in Bimini Bay. "Immediately I knew that I was just bit by a shark," one of the women recounts.
Two Americans, Summer Layman and Rileigh Decker, were attacked by a shark while swimming in the Bimini Bay area of the Bahamas. After the dramatic incident, both women were taken to the hospital, and the Royal Bahamas Police are investigating the case. They suspect that the shark that attacked was a bull shark.
Shark attacks in the Bahamas
During an afternoon yacht cruise, the women spontaneously jumped in the water for a swim. According to them, the shark attack occurred just a few minutes after they entered the ocean.
Decker recalls that they didn't see any sharks before jumping in. However, in the water, the worst happened. "Immediately I knew that I was just bit by a shark," said 20-year-old Decker on "Good Morning America."
The women attacked by the shark did not have the strength to climb the yacht ladder themselves. Thanks to the quick reaction of their friend Austin, who helped them out of the water, they survived. On the boat, friends provided first aid to the women and wrapped their wounded legs with towels to serve as tourniquets.
Traumatic incident
After the attack, the women were immediately transported to the island and from there to a hospital in the Bahamas. However, their injuries required surgery, so once they were stabilized, they were taken to a clinic in Florida. Summer Layman, who has already left the hospital, received as many as 48 stitches. Meanwhile, Decker underwent two surgeries and is awaiting another in Orlando. "I’m just very grateful to be here still and even have my leg," said one of the tourists.
This wasn't the first shark attack in the Bahamas. NBC News reminds us that the Bahamas have one of the highest rates of shark attacks in the world. Since the start of record-keeping, there have been 34 such incidents recorded.
For example, in 2023, a 44-year-old woman from Boston died after a shark attack while paddleboarding. Another dangerous incident occurred in April of the previous year when a 24-year-old was attacked by two sharks just seconds after he accidentally fell into the water.
Source: CNN/NBC News
