A Florida college student opened up about the terrifying shark attack he experienced it grasped his foot and “dragged” him underwater.
University of Central Florida student Chris Pospisil, 21, hit New Smyrna Beach with pal Reece Redish on July 14. The friends were surfing when the shark attacked.
“The shark came from under me, on my board and tipped me backwards off my board, and I was falling backwards, I saw my foot in his mouth, and it dragged me under,’ Pospisil told WOFL-TV from the hospital.
“Immediately when I resurfaced, Reece was already there, already on top of me, got me by my shirt, and pulled me on the board,” he added.
Redish told the outlet that he didn’t let fear stop him from jumping in to save his friend.
A nasty shark bite in New Smyrna Beach sent a 21-year-old UCF surfer to the hospital. Several tendons were severed in Chris Pospisil's foot and the shark left a tooth in his bone. Pospisil credits his surfing buddy with saving his life. @fox35orlando https://t.co/rBChiEwB4O
— Amy Kaufeldt FOX 35 (@Fox35Amy) July 19, 2023
“I’m not going to leave my friend in the water,” Reece said. “I’m willing to put myself at risk to help out anyone.”
Pospisil, who gave the interview from his hospital bed, underwent emergency surgery and doctors were able to save his foot, the New York Post reported. Surgeons removed a shark tooth from his bone and he had to have numerous tendons repaired.
“The top of my foot is going to be numb in some areas for the rest of my life, and my foot might be stiff because they had to repair all seven tendons,” Pospisil said.
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“Reece really made the difference,” he added. “You know, if he wasn’t there, I think it could have been way worse, and I think I definitely wouldn’t have gotten to the shore in time and probably would have passed out in the water.”
The college student has since been released from the hospital and will have to undergo at least six months of physical therapy.
When asked if the predator attack will keep the friends out of the water and not surfing, both made clear that it won’t.
“It hasn’t changed anything. I’m definitely going to keep surfing,” Pospisil said. “It’s my lifestyle, and it’s something I love to do.”
”I think I can do it. I know I can,” Redish agreed. “When Chris is better, I’ll be surfing with him every day.”