Surfers live for the thrill of chasing the perfect wave.
But everything can change in an instant with some bad luck.
And a Florida surfer’s worst nightmare came true after trying to grab his board.
Champion teen surfer survives a vicious shark attack
Teddy Wittemann, a 16-year-old, is one of the top young surfers in the country who dreams of becoming a pro one day.
The member of the USA Junior Surfing U16 boys team was going to another practice at Melbourne Beach, Florida.
Wittemann was about 200 feet out from shore riding the waves created by Hurricane Milton when he fell off of his board.
When he went to grab his surfboard, he was bitten on the arm by a shark.
The young surfer struggled to get his arm free from the thrashing shark’s bite.
“I see it right here on the inside of my arm and along my body shaking its head and thrashing around,” Wittemann told Fox 35 Orlando. “I could have lost my arm.”
Dave and Toie Crespi, Wittemann’s neighbors, were at the beach that day and sprang into action.
He used a shirt to make a tourniquet for Wittemann’s arm.
“I was paddling in, and I was screaming help. I was looking at my arm freaking out, but trying to do the right thing,” Wittemann recalled. “Another thought going through my mind was I’m bleeding out; I’m using this bloody arm to paddle in what if another shark comes.”
Paramedics arrived on the scene and took him to Holmes Regional Medical Center.
A return to the waves for champion surfer
Doctors put 30 stitches in Wittemann’s arm and placed it in a cast.
He will have to wear the cast for about a month but is expected to make a full recovery.
“The first thoughts were, ‘Am I going to be able to surf contests again?’” Wittemann said.
It was estimated that the shark that attacked him was five to six feet long.
Wittemann said the terrifying encounter could have been much worse.
“I could have lost my arm,” Wittemann said. “I could have not been able to use any of my fingers or move my wrist around. [This] could have been so much worse.”
The two-time East Coast surfing champion will be able to make a return to the waves as soon as he heals from his injuries.
He was grateful for everyone who helped him get through the traumatic ordeal.
“Super thankful to all the first responders that were able to be there for me during all this,” Wittemann stated. “Also, thanks for all the love from everyone these past couple days.”
His goal is to be able to qualify for the International Surfing Association (ISA) World Junior Games next year when he gets back in the water.
Melbourne Beach on Florida’s Atlantic Coast is about an hour south of New Smyrna Beach.
The University of Florida’s International Shark Attack File ranked New Smyrna Beach as the top spot in the world for shark attacks.
DeSantis Daily will keep you up-to-date on any new developments in this ongoing story.
