| Date of attack: | June 30th 2022 |
|---|---|
| Location: | Keaton Beach, , Florida |
| Shark species: | 9' shark |
| Name of victim: | Addison Bethea |
| Age of victim: | 17 years old |
| Sex of victim: | F |
| Activity: | Scalloping |
| Injury: | Severe bites to leg |
Florida Teen Loses Leg After Shark Attack While Scalloping
On June 30, 2022, 17-year-old Addison Bethea was scalloping with her family in shallow waters near Grassy Island off Keaton Beach, Florida, when she was attacked by a shark. The incident occurred around 3 p.m. in about five feet of water.
Bethea felt a sudden tug and attempted to fight off the shark, but it pulled her underwater. Her brother, Rhett Willingham, a firefighter and first responder, was nearby and rushed to her aid. He struck the shark until it released her, then pulled her into a nearby boat.
She sustained severe injuries to her right thigh, including the loss of her quadriceps and extensive nerve and vascular damage. Willingham applied a tourniquet to control the bleeding before she was airlifted to Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare. Due to the severity of her injuries, doctors amputated her leg above the knee on July 5.
Despite the ordeal, Bethea remains optimistic and intends to return to the ocean once she recovers. Witnesses estimated the shark to be around nine feet long.
Map showing shark attack location and nearby incidents
Nearby shark attacks
- St. George Island (near Apachicola), Franklin County, Florida | 31-May-2002
- Off Tarpon Springs, Florida | 30-May-2010
- St George Island, Franklin County, Florida | 29-Oct-20
- Apalachicola Bay, Florida | Reported 25-Aug-2014
- Off Crystal River, Florida | 24-Aug-1984
- In Gulf of Mexico 17 miles off Weeki Wachee, Florida | 31-May-1997
- Bayport, Hernando County, Florida | 17-Aug-1985
- 150 miles from Crystal River, Florida | 18-Jul-1991
