A trip to the beach took a terrifying turn when a young boy was attacked by a shark. Richard Burrows, accompanied by his father, David Burrows, and his 10-year-old sister, Rose Burrows, was snorkeling near Horseshoe Reef off Key Largo when the incident occurred. Richard sustained a serious knee injury from the shark bite, prompting his father to quickly apply a tourniquet to stop the bleeding. He was airlifted to Jackson Memorial Hospital’s Ryder Trauma Center in Miami in critical condition.
Following surgery at the hospital, Richard’s leg was saved, as confirmed by Sheriff Rick Ramsay. In a statement, the family expressed gratitude for the assistance that contained Richard’s injury. Rose, Richard’s sister, played a crucial role in his rescue, showcasing remarkable strength and composure during the ordeal.
Richard is now recuperating well post-surgery, showing improvement daily and maintaining high spirits. The family’s hope is for him to resume his love for the ocean and marine life alongside his sister soon. Florida is known for its shark encounters, with the state accounting for a significant number of shark bites globally. The specific shark species responsible for the recent attack is yet to be confirmed by authorities, leaving the boy in a critical condition.
Efforts to gather more information on the incident have been made by reaching out to various authorities.