Volusia's Youngest Shark Attack Victim Talks About Ordeal
Posted: 4:32 pm EDT April 2, 2007Updated: 5:38 pm EDT April 2, 2007
HEATHROW, Fla. -- The youngest shark bite victim on record in Volusia County spoke with Eyewitness News on Monday about his scary day at the beach. Jack LoMedico was bitten twice while swimming Sunday in New Smyrna Beach.
WEB EXCLUSIVE: Complete Interview With Young Victim
The attack happened just south of Ponce Inlet, near the Crawford Street beach ramp. While, Monday, SkyWitness didn't spot any sharks in the area, no one saw sharks Sunday, either, until it was too late."It hurt really bad," Jack told Eyewitness News.It's a heck of a story for show and tell when Jack returns to Heathrow Elementary."A shark came and bit me on my leg. The first time, it didn't feel so bad. Second time, I'm like , 'I just got bit by a shark!'"
Nearly two dozen puncture wounds required 60 stitches. There will be a scar and an everlasting memory of the panic."Until we pulled him out of water, couldn't tell what happened. I was thrilled all the toes were there. But there was lots of blood and I'm with baby screaming," said Jennifer LoMedico, Jack's mother.On top of it all, Jack's little brother, Andrew, was also in the water and saw the whole thing."He was scared and he was crying after I got bit," Jack said."He got bit by a shark and I was crying because I was so sad," Andrew said.On Tuesday, Jack will go back to school for his show and tell and a word of advice to other beachgoers."I would probably tell them not to go onto sandbar unless it's an area with no sharks on it," he said.Believe it or not, Jack wants to go back in the ocean, someday. But for now, the closest he will come to any body of water is in his backyard in the pool.Beach Patrol said that it was likely a spinner shark that bit Jack. Like most attacks, the juvenile shark likely thought the 7-year-old's leg was food.Lifeguards said such incidents will increase as the water warms and when the ocean is murky and turbulent, which it is now.
WEB EXCLUSIVE: Complete Interview With Young VictimThe attack happened just south of Ponce Inlet, near the Crawford Street beach ramp. While, Monday, SkyWitness didn't spot any sharks in the area, no one saw sharks Sunday, either, until it was too late."It hurt really bad," Jack told Eyewitness News.It's a heck of a story for show and tell when Jack returns to Heathrow Elementary."A shark came and bit me on my leg. The first time, it didn't feel so bad. Second time, I'm like , 'I just got bit by a shark!'"
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