Family holiday turns to horror as killer shark attacks boy, 12
He cheats death by wearing shoes
A 12-year-old boy yesterday described the terrifying moment when he was attacked by a shark.
Shane McConnell was walking on a harbourside during a holiday in the Bahamas when he fell into the water.
Within seconds he was attacked by a bull shark which sank its teeth through his shoes and deep into his flesh.
The attack left Shane needing 53 stitches and 20 painkilling injections.
Doctors who treated the Balerno High School pupil said he could have lost his feet or bled to death if he had not been wearing shoes.
Now back home in Balerno, Edinburgh, he told The Scottish Mail on Sunday about his encounter with one of the world’s most deadly and aggressive predators.
Remarkably, he is still fascinated by sharks – and still wants to train as a marine biologist.
On April 5 he had spent the morning jet-skiing, snorkelling and diving off a 110ft yacht near the island of Bimini with his parents Debbie, 48, Jim, 56, and brothers Jamie, 14, and nine-year-old Kyle.
Suddenly the weather changed, forcing them back to the Big Game Club marina. ‘The sea turned very choppy, so we headed to the swimming pool to play’ said Shane.
Around 5.30pm he returned to the yacht to get his lucky cap and swimming shoes. He was walking back along the marina when his ordeal began.
He recalled: ‘I put my hand over my eyes to block the sun because it was so bright, tripped on a metal cleat and fell into the sea.
‘I was scared, because I knew sharks were around – I had seen the shadow of one earlier that day.
‘I knew I had to get to the ladder, but my cap had flown off my head and floated away.
‘I swam to grab it, and when I was swimming back to the ladder I saw half of a shark’s body come out of the water. I saw its tail and fin – it was big and it was grey.
‘I think it thought I was food being thrown in. I shouted for help when I saw it. But then it disappeared under me. I felt it brush my hand – I thought it had missed me.’
As Shane scrabbled to reach the ladder to climb out of the water, he was so terrified that at first he did not notice the shark had circled and bitten both his feet. He said: ‘All the security men on the docks were suddenly surrounding me. The shark had got me, but I didn’t know it until then.
‘Three security men laid me down and wrapped white towels tightly around both my feet. I wasn’t in pain, I couldn’t feel anything, but my legs were shaking a lot.’
As is the case with many shark attack victims, Shane’s body was in shock, blocking any pain.
But his swimming shoes were shredded with large teeth marks, blood was seeping from his wounds and his tendons were visible.
His father was the first family member by his side. Mr McConnell, a support worker for adults with special needs, said: ‘I heard a commotion and I saw someone lying on the ground.
‘I recognised the T-shirt and shorts and knew it was Shane. I ran over. I thought he had climbed down the ladder to feed the sharks and started giving him a row.
‘Then I saw his feet and the large puncture wounds and lacerations, and saw the blood after the towels had been taken off – and I realised it was serious.’
Mrs McConnell, a shop worker, arrived after being told by strangers at the pool about a shark attack at the harbour.
She said: ‘I saw Shane’s blond hair and his cap. My legs turned to jelly. I started shaking and crying. I was in shock. I ran over to him.
‘I held his hand, and Shane kept saying he was all right. I just kept thinking what could have happened… what if? He could have lost his legs or been killed.’
Shane was taken away on a makeshift stretcher to the local surgery, where he was given 20 shots of novocaine.
He now reflects: ‘The most painful thing was the injections. But I still want to be a marine biologist – and the best thing is, I’ll have a cool scar to show people.’
‘I think it thought I was food being thrown in’