‘A traumatic scene’: Teenager bitten by shark in Georgia waters

OSSABAW ISLAND, Ga. - A teenager was bitten by a shark near Ossabaw Island, and bystanders at a nearby dock stepped in to help before emergency crews arrived.

U.S. Coast Guard Charleston said watchstanders responded to a shark bite near Ossabaw Island around 4:06 p.m. Wednesday. Officials said watchstanders coordinated with Liberty County Emergency Agency to meet the boat at the Sunbury Crab Docks.

Boater Terry Tatum said she was on her boat at the dock when she noticed something was wrong.

“I was sitting right here reading a book on the back of the boat and we saw a boat coming up and we could tell from a distance that there was trauma going on,” Tatum said.

She said the boat docked in front of hers and the teen’s father ran for help.

“And I went to the boat and saw three teenagers on the boat and a traumatic scene,” Tatum said.

How it happened

Tatum said one of the teens was badly bleeding on his thigh. She retrieved a first aid kit and assisted.

“They told me that they were fishing. They caught a large shark, five or six feet, and tried to unhook it and the shark latched onto the young man’s right thigh and I got the first aid kit and assisted,” Tatum said.

Further up the dock at the Sunbury Crab Company, McIntosh County EMS volunteer BJ Comer heard the commotion and said her instincts took over.

“I ran to my car and grabbed my jump bag thinking we need a tourniquet. When I ran down the dock with my coworker, the ambulance were pulling up at the same time. My coworker and I were able to load the patient off the boat and they transported for EMS,” Comer said.

The Coast Guard said the victim was transferred to a local hospital. The victim’s identity and condition were not known Wednesday night.