Florida Teen Who Was Attacked By a Shark Still Plans to Return to Water: 'I Love Surfing'

Mar. 15, 2025

Teddy Wittemann was surfing off a Brevard County beach on Friday, Oct. 11, when he fell off his board and into the water, according toFlorida Today.

Before he was able to get back on, Wittemann said something did not feel quite right,NBC affiliate WESHreported. That’s when he spotted the shark.

“I looked over because I felt this pressure on my arm, and I saw it along the side of my body,” the teen explained. “I knew exactly what was going on.”

He believes the animal that bit him was a 6-foot bull shark, which only took one bite before swimming away, per WESH.

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“I was looking at my arm freaking out, but trying to do the right thing,” Wittemann toldFlorida Today. “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.”

Wittemann eventually returned to shore and called 911, according to WESH. Some beachgoers, including one who happened to know Witteman, helped bandage him up.

Dave and Toie Crespi leaped into action when they saw Wittemann come ashore, perFlorida Today. Dave, who Witteman knows from surfing, tied his shirt around the teen’s wound.

They then helped Wittemann walk to State Road A1A, where a neighbor and friend spotted Wittemann and helped him call his parents, per the paper. He connected with them before going to a hospital.

But when the time comes, Wittemann plans to do exactly that. “It’s what I love to do, I love surfing,” the teen told WESH. “I do it every day. It’s my passion to become a pro surfer someday.”

Wittemann has already accomplished surfing success at a young age. According toFlorida Today, the teen is part of the USA Junior Surfing U16 Boys Team and competes in the USA Surfing Prime series.

He is also a two-time USA Surfing Prime East Coast champion, a two-time National Scholastic Surfing Association East Coast champion and a one-time Eastern Surf Association champion.

source: people.com