It was a heart-stopping moment for the terrified schoolboy – as he was attacked by a huge shark while on holiday.
But fearless 12-year-old Shane McConnell survived and says the experience has only made him more determined than ever to pursue his ambition – of becoming a marine biologist.
Shane was walking along a harbourside when he tripped, fell into the water and was grabbed by a bull shark, which clamped its jaws over his feet. Medics later said that if he had not been wearing shoes, he could have lost both feet and possibly bled to death.
‘I put my hand over my eyes to block the sun out and accidentally tripped and fell into the sea,’ he recalled back at his home in Edinburgh.
Fearless 12-year-old Shane McConnell, pictured with his parents, survived an attack by a huge shark while on holiday
‘Then I saw a shark’s body rise out of the water. I was splashing a lot, and I think it thought I was food being thrown in. I shouted for help when I saw it. But then it disappeared under me. I felt it brush my hand – I thought it had missed me.’
But when he pulled himself up a nearby ladder, he realised he had been bitten. He said: ‘Three security men ran towards me and laid me down, and then wrapped white towels around both my feet. I didn’t know what had happened. I wasn’t in pain, I couldn’t feel anything. But my legs were shaking a lot.’
Shane was grabbed by a bull shark which clamped its jaws over his feet. Medics said if he had not been wearing shoes, he could have lost both feet and possibly bled to death
In shock, he didn’t realise how bad his injuries were. But his shoes were shredded, there were deep, bloody bite marks on his feet and his tendons were visible. Despite his injuries, which needed 53 stitches, Shane, a first-year pupil at secondary school, still wants to fulfil his ambition. ‘David Attenborough is my idol, and I have watched Blue Planet many times – I watched it again on the plane back last week,’ he says. ‘It was three years ago I realised I wanted to be a marine biologist. Even after this, I am happiest when I’m in the ocean.’
Shane was on holiday in Florida with his mother, Debbie, 48, father Jim, 56, and brothers, Kyle, nine, and Jamie, 14, staying at his uncle’s holiday home in Fort Lauderdale.
The family had spent a morning jet-skiing off a yacht near the Bahamas island of Bimini. Later, while the family were swimming at the Big Game Marina resort on Bimini, Shane returned to the boat to get his ‘lucky’ cap which he had left there.
Mr McConnell, a support worker with children with special needs, said: ‘I heard a commotion and saw someone on the ground.
‘I recognised Shane’s T-shirt and shorts. I saw his feet and the large puncture wounds and lacerations, and saw the blood, and realised it was serious.’
Mrs McConnell, a shop worker, arrived minutes later. ‘I started shaking and crying,’ she said. ‘I just keep thinking what could have happened. He could have lost his feet or legs, or been killed.’
Shane was rushed to a local surgery, where he needed 20 shots of anaesthetic and 53 stitches.
Bull sharks are found worldwide in coastal areas, have about 350 razor-sharp teeth and can reach 11ft in length. They are aggressive and will eat almost anything, including dolphins and other sharks.
Shane was on holiday in Florida with his mother, Debbie, 48, father Jim, 56, and brothers, Kyle, nine, and Jamie, 14, staying at his uncle’s holiday home in Fort Lauderdale when a bull shark (file photo) attacked him