A Georgia manâs heroic instincts kicked in at the worst possible moment when a shark sank its teeth into his foot while he was trying to get his pregnant fiancĂ©e to safety in the shallows of a Florida beach.
Jacorey High, in his early 20s and from Henry County, was wading in waist-deep water near the Dunlawton Beach Approach in Daytona Beach Shores last Saturday afternoon when the attack happened.
It was just hours before this yearâs Shark Week officially began on the Discovery Channel.
According to Volusia County Beach Safety officials, the sharkâestimated to be about four feet longâlatched onto Highâs left foot and ankle.
Beach Safety medics treated him on the sand before rushing him to a nearby hospital. Fortunately, his injuries were described as non-life-threatening.
High told local FOX affiliate that his first thought wasnât his own pain. It was getting his fiancĂ©e out of the water.
âI realized right away it was a shark because of the way it bit down on my foot, but I was more worried about getting my fiancĂ©e out of the water,â he said.
The shark didnât back off easily. High said it kept coming after him, even trying to go for his arm and his other leg as he scrambled to shore.
He described the shark as gray on top and roughly the height from his waist to his feet.
Once he made it onto dry sand, the adrenaline faded. High didnât fully feel the damage until doctors at the hospital started treating him with medication.
Surgeons operated on his foot, and he expects recovery to take about three months. Heâs just hoping nothing vital was damaged so he can get back to work.
Marine experts remind beachgoers that shark bites are extremely rare, even in busy summer months. They recommend staying out of murky water, avoiding areas with large schools of fish, and steering clear of active fishing spots.
High is now recovering at home, and according to reports, heâs grateful he was the only one hurt that day.
What would you have done if you saw a shark heading straight for your family?
