Man airlifted after shark attack off Marathon

A 30-year-old Atlanta, Georgia man was airlifted to Ryder Trauma Center in Miami Sunday morning after he was bitten in the shoulder by a shark at Sombrero Key Light.

Andrew Charles Eddy was taken to Sombrero Beach at approximately 10:30 a.m. to waiting Marathon Fire Rescue paramedics and Sheriff’s Office Deputies.

Eddy was then airlifted via the Trauma Star air ambulance. His immediate condition as of Sunday afternoon was not immediately clear.

The injury to Eddy’s shoulder was described as severe.

Sheriff Rick Ramsay praised everyone who responded to the incident, including those on the boat who immediately began first aid, 911 Communications Specialists, Trauma Star crews, Deputies and Marathon Fire Rescue who are trained in advanced medical care and have the most up-to-date equipment and supplies for dealing for such medical emergencies.

“This was a very rare medical crisis for the Florida Keys, but everyone came together — including those witnesses on the boat to 911 Communicators to all our emergency responders — in order to ensure this victim received life-saving care,” said Sheriff Ramsay.

Eddy was snorkeling on the reef with family on a private boat.

The Sheriff’s Office received information there was a bull shark in that area by boaters who were there previously.

The shark was described by witnesses as eight to 10 feet in length.

Witnesses stated Eddy was attacked almost immediately after entering the water.

There was no one fishing or chumming the water where the group was snorkeling.

There were no other reported injuries.

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