Kite Surfer Bitten By Shark Off Delray Beach
FT LAUDERDALE (CBSMiami) - A South Florida man had a run in with a shark off Delray Beach and lived to talk about it.
"You can see the teeth marks, it's about seven inches wide and it's pretty intense cause it kind of shocks your system," said Kurt Hoffman.
Hoffman said he was out kite surfing when he "started to go down the face of the wave and wham."
He said a shark bit down on his forearm and dragged him into the water. The shark did eventually let go, leaving behind more than a dozen puncture wounds.
After making it to shore Hoffman immediately called his wife who rushed him to the emergency room. Doctors left his wounds open because of the bacteria sharks carry in their mouths.
Hoffman is just thankful to be alive.
"I can still move my arms and fingers. No tendons were damaged," said Hoffman.
But apparently the close is still not enough to keep this kite surfing instructor from hitting the waves.
"That wouldn't deter me ever, if you see a lot of them out there, then just decide, hey tomorrow might be a better day than today."
In 2013 Florida actually led the world in shark attacks. Fortunately, none of them were fatal.
