(NewsNation) — A Florida man has described how a surfboard leash helped save his life after he was bitten by a shark whereas browsing at New Smyrna Seaside.
Matthew Bender joined “Elizabeth Vargas Stories” to debate the July 6 assault that has left him with out feeling at the back of his hand.
Regardless of his wound, a full restoration is feasible — a outstanding actuality given his forearm was in a shark’s mouth over the vacation weekend.
“Feeling so blessed to have my life, my arm, the usage of my hand, and probably, a full restoration,” Bender mentioned.
“It may very well be completely inconsequential,” he mentioned of the accidents. “Apart from some scars, I simply really feel tremendous grateful. Thanks, Lord.”
Bender was paddling out for a 3rd wave at New Smyrna Seaside, which is named the shark chew capital of the world, when he felt a “very onerous” and forceful chew.
“It shook its head,” he mentioned of the shark. “By the point I seemed down, it was gone, and all I noticed was crimson.
“I knew I used to be bitten by a shark even earlier than I seemed down. I went into enterprise mode, like, ‘received to get again to the seaside.'”
He rode a wave to shore, and a 16-year-old surfer and her father rushed over to assist and referred to as 911.
“I used to be placing my arm over my head … I used to be attempting to maintain the arteries from gushing,” Bender mentioned whereas including that a part of his forearm had “no pores and skin on it.”
He realized he may use the 16-year-old’s surfboard leash as a tourniquet, and his buddies helped wrap it round his arm.
“That actually did cease the bleeding,” he mentioned. “Good to put on a leash, [unlike] me.”
Bender mentioned a prayer earlier than he paddled out, asking God to maintain him protected all through his surf.
“He did hold me protected total, and I really feel like by way of this complete factor, he’s being glorified, as a result of it is only a miracle that I haven’t got any ache in my arm.”
