• Latest
  • Trending
  • All
  • News
  • Business
  • Lifestyle
9-Foot Shark Attacks Girl, 17, Instantly Gets a Smack-Down by Her Brother

9-Foot Shark Attacks Girl, 17, Instantly Gets a Smack-Down by Her Brother

July 2, 2022
One Of America’s Most Insane Local Politicians Just Won In DC

One Of America’s Most Insane Local Politicians Just Won In DC

July 16, 2025
Three GOP Sens Vote Against Advancing Donald Trump’s Rescissions Package

Three GOP Sens Vote Against Advancing Donald Trump’s Rescissions Package

July 15, 2025
Biden Border Advisor Suddenly Has Thoughts About Fixing American Immigration System

Biden Border Advisor Suddenly Has Thoughts About Fixing American Immigration System

July 15, 2025
Feds Continue To Uncover Far-Left Network Linked To Texas ICE Facility Shooting

Feds Continue To Uncover Far-Left Network Linked To Texas ICE Facility Shooting

July 15, 2025
Thomas Massie Says He Will Force Vote On Releasing Epstein Files

Thomas Massie Says He Will Force Vote On Releasing Epstein Files

July 15, 2025
Trump Announces Massive Investments To Steer America Closer To Energy, Tech Dominance

Trump Announces Massive Investments To Steer America Closer To Energy, Tech Dominance

July 15, 2025
Microsoft’s Use Of China-Based Engineers Could Be Leaving Pentagon Tech Exposed To Hackers

Microsoft’s Use Of China-Based Engineers Could Be Leaving Pentagon Tech Exposed To Hackers

July 15, 2025
‘Soulless Ghoul’: Far-Left Editor Roasted For Going After JD Vance’s Kids On Libs’ Favorite Platform

‘Soulless Ghoul’: Far-Left Editor Roasted For Going After JD Vance’s Kids On Libs’ Favorite Platform

July 15, 2025
JOHN CZWARTACKI: Abandoning Open Banking Now Would Undermine The Genius Act’s Promise

JOHN CZWARTACKI: Abandoning Open Banking Now Would Undermine The Genius Act’s Promise

July 15, 2025
Senate GOP Close To Passing Slimmed-Down DOGE Cuts After Weakening Package

Senate GOP Close To Passing Slimmed-Down DOGE Cuts After Weakening Package

July 15, 2025
Trump Admin Demands University of Michigan Spill Beans On All Foreign Ties

Trump Admin Demands University of Michigan Spill Beans On All Foreign Ties

July 15, 2025
Jasmine Crockett Serves Up Head-Scratching Word Salad About ‘Sesame Street’ In Iraq

Jasmine Crockett Serves Up Head-Scratching Word Salad About ‘Sesame Street’ In Iraq

July 15, 2025
  • Donald Trump
  • State of the Union
  • Elon Musk
  • Tariffs
  • Congress
  • Faith
  • Immigration
Wednesday, July 16, 2025
  • Login
IJR
  • Politics
  • US News
  • Commentary
  • World News
  • Faith
  • Latest Polls
No Result
View All Result
IJR
No Result
View All Result
Home News

9-Foot Shark Attacks Girl, 17, Instantly Gets a Smack-Down by Her Brother

by Western Journal
July 2, 2022 at 11:20 am
in News
245 7
0
9-Foot Shark Attacks Girl, 17, Instantly Gets a Smack-Down by Her Brother
491
SHARES
1.4k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

A 17-year-old girl suffered serious injuries Thursday when she was attacked by a shark while swimming off of a Florida beach.

Addison Bethea of Perry, Florida, was scooping up scallops off of Keaton Beach near Big Grassy Island when she was attacked, according to WCTV-TV.

Family members told the station that shark bit her several times and would not let go.

“It’s a tragedy, what’s happened,”  Taylor County Sheriff Wayne Padgett said.

Rhett Willingham, her brother and a firefighter/EMT, fought off the shark with the help of nearby boaters, according to a press release from Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare.

The hospital said rescuers used a tourniquet to control the bleeding. The teen was airlifted to Tallahassee Memorial.

The hospital’s release said Bethea “has devastating damage to the soft tissue in her right leg.”

“The TMH trauma team stabilized her, and the trauma surgeon performed emergency surgery with a goal of restoring blood flow to her leg,” the release said.

“She will undergo a second surgery Saturday, July 2 to further investigate the extent of the damage to her leg and determine what treatment options are available with the goal of saving her leg,” the release said.

Shane Bethea, the injured girl’s father, summarized the incident in a Friday post on his Facebook page.

“The shark bit her once and then attacked her again on her right thigh. She tried poking it in the eyes and punching it but it would not turn loose. By the grace of God, she was with her brother Rhett Willingham, who is a first responder/firefighter, who acted quickly to literally fight off the shark and pull her away and into a nearby boat of an unknown person (thank you to whoever you are),” he posted.

TEEN ATTACKED BY SHARK: A Florida teen is speaking out after she was critically injured following a terrifying shark attack in shallow waters near northern Florida. @VictorOquendo reports. https://t.co/IzgAoGqwf1 pic.twitter.com/iB9e8UgB14

— World News Tonight (@ABCWorldNews) July 2, 2022

“Rhett put a tourniquet on her leg to minimize blood loss to the massive injury and kept her awake, ultimately saving her life. Once the boat got back to Keaton beach, she was life-flighted to Tallahassee Memorial Hospital for emergency surgeries,” he posted.

She faced serious complications at the hospital, he said.

Doctors “had to remove a vein from her left leg to create an artery in the right to try and get blood flow reestablished to her foot and lower leg. The nerve on the back of the thigh was damaged severely. There is an unreal amount of damage to her thigh area. The doctors are unsure at this point as to the condition of the leg and want to take it day by day to see what will have to be done,” he posted.

“She’s been through more than I could ever imagine but she is being a trooper. Please pray for her and the difficulty of her days ahead. She isn’t out of the woods by any stretch, but she is alive and that’s what’s most important to us. We want to thank everyone that has texted, called, and prayed. I’m trying to respond to everyone but if I miss you, please forgive me. We appreciate all of the support and Addison wanted me to tell everyone Thank You as well,” he posted.

Tyler Bowling, program manager for the Florida Museum’s International Shark Attack File, said this was Taylor County’s first recorded shark attack.

The family said the attack took place in water that was about five feet deep, and that the shark was nine feet long.”

‘Swimmers and scallopers are cautioned to be alert, vigilant, and practice shark safety. Some rules to follow are: never swim alone, do not enter the water near fishermen, avoid areas such as sandbars (where sharks like to congregate), do not swim near large schools of fish, and avoid erratic movements while in the water,” the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office posted on Facebook.

The Daily Mail, citing  The International Shark File, said nearly 40 percent of all worldwide unprovoked shark bites take place in Florida.

This article appeared originally on The Western Journal.

Tags: animalsFloridagood SamaritanHero
Share196Tweet123
Western Journal

Western Journal

Advertisements

Top Stories June 10th
Top Stories June 7th
Top Stories June 6th
Top Stories June 3rd
Top Stories May 30th
Top Stories May 29th
Top Stories May 24th
Top Stories May 23rd
Top Stories May 21st
Top Stories May 17th

Join Over 6M Subscribers

We’re organizing an online community to elevate trusted voices on all sides so that you can be fully informed.





IJR

    Copyright © 2024 IJR

Trusted Voices On All Sides

  • About Us
  • GDPR Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • Editorial Standards & Corrections Policy
  • Subscribe to IJR

Follow Us

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Politics
  • US News
  • Commentary
  • World News
  • Faith
  • Latest Polls

    Copyright © 2024 IJR

Top Stories June 10th Top Stories June 7th Top Stories June 6th Top Stories June 3rd Top Stories May 30th Top Stories May 29th Top Stories May 24th Top Stories May 23rd Top Stories May 21st Top Stories May 17th