10-Year-Old Boy Attacked by Shark 

BY MAGGIE OLIVE KLEIN
KONKLIFE STAFF WRITER AND EDITOR 

While on vacation in the Keys, 10-year-old Jameson Reeder Jr. was attacked by a shark. Jameson Jr. was snorkeling with his family at Looe Key Sanctuary along a shallow reef, when, suddenly, his leg was bitten by what is believed to be an 8-foot bull shark, one of the most dangerous sharks in the water. Jameson and his mother were airlifted by helicopter to a Miami-Dade hospital less than an hour after the time of the incident. Once safely arriving to the hospital, Jameson Jr. was immediately taken in for care. 

Joshua Reeder, Jameson Jr.’s uncle, shared a lengthy post on Facebook explaining the attack and the updated position his nephew is in. When recounting what he knows about the hospital visit, he says, “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. But his life was spared.” He continues on to detail his and his family’s belief in and appreciation for Jesus, and mentioned that Jesus spared Jameson Jr.’s life after the tragic accident occurred. He also mentions that his nephew is out of surgery and resting and seems to be in good spirits. There is a GiveSendGo page that Joshua includes in his Facebook post that will help support his family on their road to recovery. He also encourages readers to keep the family in their prayers, and that he and his loved ones are thankful for whatever support people are able to provide. 

The species of shark seemingly responsible for the attack is a bull shark. This species can grow between 10 and 11 feet long and is considered to be a very aggressive and invasive animal. Bull sharks are distinguished from other sharks because of their body’s high width-to-length ratio which gives them a stout appearance. According to National Wildlife Federation, “Bull sharks are often considered to be the most dangerous sharks to humans because of their aggressive tendencies and ability to migrate up rivers.” Some consider bull sharks to be more dangerous than larger great white sharks; they account for the third highest number of attacks on humans. 

As said on Key West Fishing Charters, “Bull sharks and their cousins the great whites and tiger sharks are considered by marine experts to be the most aggressive of predators and we should be exceptionally careful around them.” They love the warm, shallow waters, so they are often found on coasts, including those off Florida. They will eat almost anything, so, of course that includes us. Stay safe, Key West, and pray for those that have been victims of shark attacks. 

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