Jameson Reeder Jr., a 10-year-old boy, had part of his leg amputated after a shark bit him while he was snorkeling off the Florida Keys over the weekend, his family says.
The boy and his family were snorkeling at Looe Key Reef on Saturday when he was bitten by the shark, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The attack happened at about 4:30 pm.
The Reeders were able to signal another boat for help as Jameson was immediately taken to the shore and then airlifted to a children’s hospital in Miami.
Jameson’s uncle Joshua Reeder posted a message on Facebook regarding his nephew’s incident.
An emotional family arrived in South Florida after getting the news that their 10 Year Old relative Jameson Reeder Jr lost his leg in a Shark Attack. The story on @WPLGLocal10 pic.twitter.com/t7x6te5ft7
— Rosh Lowe (@roshloweWPLG) August 15, 2022
“Please pray for my nephew Jameson jr. 10 years old turning 11 in a couple weeks. He was in the Florida Keys on vacation with my brother Jameson sr. and Mary Reeder along with his brothers Noah and Nehemiah and sister Eliana,” Jameson’s uncle wrote. “They were out on a boat snorkeling along a shallow reef when a very traumatic event occurred and my nephew Jameson jr. was attacked by what they believe to be an 8ft Bull Shark”
“They had to remove/amputate from just below the knee to save his life as it was not operable from the damage the shark had caused.” “They said the shark made the decision for him and wasn’t anything they could do to save it.”
According to Tracking Sharks, there have been 59 shark attack bites in 2022 that can be verified, six were fatal. Of the 32 shark attack bites in the United States this year, 19 occurred in Florida.
As the planet continues to evolve and the population expands, we are going to continually be in direct conflict with nature. The more we encroach on the domain of wildlife we will see more negative interactions.
This incident with Jameson Reeder Jr. just seems to be a case of bad luck. A young boy was out snorkeling with his family, and the next thing he realizes is a shark has got ahold of him.
A boy was bitten by a shark on Saturday while snorkeling off the Florida Keys. Jameson Reeder Jr., 10, said on Facebook that part of his leg was amputated as a result of the attack. pic.twitter.com/sBQEwBM5Nd
— T2TNEWS (@T2T_News) August 17, 2022
That had to be absolutely terrifying.
Oftentimes there is no rhyme or reason as to what types of behaviors animals might engage in in their natural habitat. Sharks generally don’t consume people.
“People are bitten but rarely consumed, and that tells us that we are not on the shark’s menu,” Christopher Lowe, director of the Shark Lab at California State University Long Beach, told CNN this year.
An online fundraiser set up on behalf of Jameson Jr. had eclipsed $60,000 as of Monday night.
“Jameson is an amazingly strong young man,” the website reads. “He was able to get his family’s attention and hang on to a noodle float until the boat could get to him. God was watching out for him and has been in every detail. They could have lost their sweet boy, but Jameson knew Jesus was with him.”
As the attack wasn’t fatal, the Reeders can focus their energies and resources on Jameson’s recovery. Hopefully he’ll get fitted for a prosthetic and begin his journey toward healing.
