Hero captain dives into shark-infested waters after pal savaged by creature
The 40-year-old was viciously attacked by the sea beast when they were on a trip while on holiday in Florida in America – but thanks to his mate, he survived the ordeal.
Jacob has opened up on the terrifying incident(Image: Fox 10)
A man jumped in to save his mate, who was being viciously attacked by a shark on a diving excursion.
The 40-year-old was viciously attacked by the sea beast when they were on a trip while on holiday in Florida in America – but thanks to his mate, he survived the ordeal. Boat captain Jacob Johnson was diving with three others across the state’s Emerald Coast when, during a planned dive, a bull shark bit his pal who screamed for help.
He said he thought he was joking at first, but then saw the waters filled with blood. “I was helping one of the other divers get undressed when I heard ‘Help help. I’ve been bit’,” Johnson said.
The man attacked has made a full recovery(Image: Fox 10)
“I was looking over the side of the boat to make fun of him; I thought he got bit by a trigger fish. And he’s surrounded in blood.”
His unnamed pal had been badly savaged on both forearms, and could not lift himself back onto the boat due to the injury.
He continued: “There was no time for emotions or critical thinking as far as risk analysis — I just jumped in,” said Johnson, who the used his strength to push his mate back aboard..
They then worked to tourniquet his arm and get him back to shore for medical help.
Another man also happened to have WoundSeal, a powder that stops minor external bleeding, which his wife had packed for him, so was able to use that.
They slathered it on both his arms, which slowed the bleeding, and then applied a tourniquet with zip ties.
“I pulled it tight and said, ‘How’s that?’ and he said, ‘I think it’s too tight.’ So I pulled it again,” Johnson said, “You’re not bleeding out on my watch.”
The group continued talking to the victim to keep him calm and he remained conscious while the Coast Guard arrived, rushed him to shore, and airlifted him to hospital.
The injured man is expected to make a full recovery, despite the shark tearing into an artery.
He said he was trying to keep calm to keep his friend calm, but admitted he prayed to God the entire trip back that he would make it.
“I was praying to God that we made it back safely, that we could mitigate as much damage as we could to his arms, and that he was gonna get back to his family,” he said.
“Every one of our prayers were not only heard, but answered.”
