Texas tourist survives attack from 6-foot bull shark
- 8 years ago
UNDA DA SEA — A Waco, Texas dentist is recovering from a vicious shark attack that took place while he was vacationing in the Bahamas over the weekend.
Dr. Steve Cutbirth, 62, was spearfishing with his son-in-law and some local guides when he nabbed a hogfish, he wrote in a Facebook post. However, said fish was also the target of a 6-foot bull shark, which crashed into Cutbirth as he tried to surface.
Cutbirth writes that the next thing he saw was the bull shark coming at him, mouth wide open and plenty of teeth showing. But where most would piss themselves, Cutbirth managed to strike the beast on the head.
Down but not out, the shark came back for more, this time going for Cutbirth’s leg. Luckily he managed kick it in the head and escape to the surface.
To make matters worse, there was no doctor on the island to treat his injuries. But Cutbirth, a man with plentiful surgical experience, guided a local nurse who had never treated a shark bite before through the procedure.
He received 30 stitches in total and decided to continue on with his vacation.
Cutbirth reckons that blood from a fish his son-in-law speared may have set off the bull shark. He doesn’t blame the shark for the attack, however, telling a local news outlet KWTX News 10 that the shark was just doing what came naturally to it.
“The shark was just doing what sharks are supposed to do which is keep the ocean clean by eating dead or injured fish,” Cutbirth said.
Dr. Steve Cutbirth, 62, was spearfishing with his son-in-law and some local guides when he nabbed a hogfish, he wrote in a Facebook post. However, said fish was also the target of a 6-foot bull shark, which crashed into Cutbirth as he tried to surface.
Cutbirth writes that the next thing he saw was the bull shark coming at him, mouth wide open and plenty of teeth showing. But where most would piss themselves, Cutbirth managed to strike the beast on the head.
Down but not out, the shark came back for more, this time going for Cutbirth’s leg. Luckily he managed kick it in the head and escape to the surface.
To make matters worse, there was no doctor on the island to treat his injuries. But Cutbirth, a man with plentiful surgical experience, guided a local nurse who had never treated a shark bite before through the procedure.
He received 30 stitches in total and decided to continue on with his vacation.
Cutbirth reckons that blood from a fish his son-in-law speared may have set off the bull shark. He doesn’t blame the shark for the attack, however, telling a local news outlet KWTX News 10 that the shark was just doing what came naturally to it.
“The shark was just doing what sharks are supposed to do which is keep the ocean clean by eating dead or injured fish,” Cutbirth said.