?My Entire Right Thigh Was Eaten Off?: 18-Year-Old Survivor of Shark Attack Recalls Horrifying Experience of Survival After One Year

A year ago, Addison Bethea woke up in the hospital, her surroundings bewildering as the events of the previous day slowly unfolded in her mind. With tubes down her throat and hands swathed in bandages, the reality of her harrowing experience began to sink in. Bethea found solace in the fact that she had managed to survive the ordeal.

In a gripping tale of courage and resilience, eighteen-year-old Addison Bethea, a native of Taylor County, Florida, reflects on her life-changing encounter with a shark. Approaching the one-year anniversary of the harrowing incident, Bethea shares her remarkable journey of survival, recovery, and adaptation after enduring a vicious shark attack that resulted in the amputation of her leg.

Fighting for Life Against a Shark

On that fateful day, Bethea had been enjoying a leisurely day at the beach, swimming with her brother, Rhett. As they made their way back to the boat, tired from scalloping, tragedy struck. Bethea was yanked underwater without warning by a sudden pull. She became disoriented and terrified as she realized she was being attacked by a shark.

She screamed for her brother’s assistance, fighting back with everything she had. Bethea described the horrifying experience in detail in a Facebook post stating, ?I was holding onto the shark feeling it’s sand paper skin, my arm not even wrapping around its back all the way, praying to God that somehow, I would be okay.”

She continued, “Meanwhile it was thrashing back and forth tearing my thigh, veins, nerves, and muscles all away. It was attempting to swim away while I was still in its mouth?. Rhett miraculously arrived in time, fending off the shark and pulling her to safety.

She said, “Rhett noticed all the blood in the water but only saw my calve bite wondering how in the world I could be bleeding that much. As he lifted me into the boat, he saw my entire right thigh was eaten off.” It was a race against time as they waited for assistance from a kind stranger who arrived on a nearby boat. They managed to stop the bleeding and get Bethea to safety using makeshift tourniquets and quick thinking.

Overcoming Challenges and Embracing a New Normal

Bethea was hospitalized for 37 days, including 20 days in a children’s center and 17 days in a rehabilitation facility. Throughout this time, her father was by her side, offering unwavering support. Despite the obstacles, Bethea remained determined to reclaim her sense of self-reliance. Learning to drive, going to her senior prom, and receiving her prosthetic leg were all significant milestones in her life that fueled her spirit.

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As Bethea continues to embrace her new reality, she eagerly awaits the arrival of her first child, due in December, marking another significant milestone in her journey.?Bethea’s experience sheds light on the issue of shark attacks, which, continue to be a concern for beachgoers around the world. Florida has seen its fair share of unprovoked shark attacks, prompting increased awareness and safety precautions. Authorities have implemented beach patrols and safety protocols to reduce the risk to swimmers while they enjoy the beauty of the ocean.

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