A Florida man miraculously survived a near-death experience when he fell into shark-infested waters after slipping off a boat in the Bahamas.
Marlin Wakeman, 24, was at Flying Fish Marina on Long Island when he tried to dock the boat he was working on and accidentally fell into the dangerous waters during the terrifying experience on April 26.
At least 20 sharks, which had been feeding on fish carcasses thrown into the water by a nearby fisherman, attacked Wakeman seconds after he fell into the water.
One of the sharks bit him on the leg and another sank its teeth into his shoulder. Wakeman managed to get out of danger and to safety, while the ship’s captain rushed to put a tourniquet on his leg.
Wakeman was rushed to the nearest hospital and then flown to a trauma center in Florida. Trauma surgeon Dr. Robert Borrego of St. Mary’s Medical Center in West Palm Beach said the boy’s kneecap was punctured and the shark missed an artery.
Doctors said Wakeman, who underwent surgery, is expected to make a full recovery.
Marlin Wakeman, 24, was at Flying Fish Marina on Long Island when he tried to dock the boat he was working on and accidentally fell into the dangerous waters.
The shark-infested waters (pictured) around the marina on Long Island, Bahamas. Wakeman said one shark bit him on the leg and another on his shoulder while he was trying to get to safety.
At Thursday’s news conference held at St. Mary’s Medical Center in West Palm Beach, Wakeman said, “I was very lucky and it could have been a very different outcome.”
Wakeman, who used crutches, was upbeat as he spoke about his ordeal at a news conference held Thursday at the hospital with his family members and surgeon at his side.
‘I was bitten by two sharks two weeks ago in the southern Bahamas. I was going to return to the boat at the marina; That day there was low tide and a lot of waves.
He said: ‘When I went to take a step towards the boat I didn’t take all the time I should have and I ended up in the water hanging from the cabin of the boat.’ The Palm Beach Post reported.
“When they bit me, I was going back in but he grabbed me and pulled me under the water. I strained for a second, controlled my surroundings and realized what was happening,” she said.
He added: “I got my left hand back on the boat, and at that moment the other shark came and hit me on the right side of my right shoulder and then I was able to get on the boat thank God.” and he asks for help.’
He said that marina was the “worst marina he had ever seen; there were 20 sharks roaming around at any given time.”
‘When I ended up in the water I pretty much knew what was going to happen when it bit me. I knew what was happening. I didn’t have a second in my head of what it was or what was happening.’
He said he was clinging to the deck board and the shark grabbed him, dragged him under the water and then let him go.
“I was very lucky that it didn’t shake its head or hold on for a while and that’s when I was able to come back to the surface and put my hand on the boat. That’s when I went up to the surface to get off the boat and the other shark bit me but fortunately he couldn’t grab me so I was able to get off the boat.’
He said the ordeal “happened very quickly” and said he didn’t have time to panic as he knew what was happening and just had to get out of the water.
Although he admitted he might have a few “nightmares here or there,” he said, “I’ll be fine.”
In fact, once he fully recovers, he plans to return to the same area and explained that it is a prime area for diving and fishing.
He added: “I was very lucky and the result could have been very different.”
His advice to others: ‘Don’t be afraid. Keep in mind that they are an apex predator and you don’t want to end up in their mouth.”