Monroe County Fire Rescue Responds to Shark Bite Patient on Summerland Key

SUMMERLAND KEY, FL – Monroe County Fire Rescue responded to a shark bite patient on Wednesday afternoon on Summerland Key. The patient jumped off a boat and surfaced with a leg injury. There was a large laceration on the patient’s leg. Those aboard the boat applied pressure and a tourniquet to prevent more bleeding.

Monroe County Fire Rescue was staged at a Summerland Key restaurant with water access and transported the patient to the Summerland Key airport to be transferred via Trauma Star to Miami for further care.

In flight, the patient received a blood transfusion. According to Trauma Star staff, the blood transfusion onboard strongly contributed to the patient’s status upon arrival in Miami. Trauma Star is the only air ambulance service in Monroe County. In May 2019, Trauma Star helicopters implemented the ability to provide whole blood transfusions onboard, helping in critical moments.

The Miami hospital confirmed that the patient was bitten by a shark based on the laceration.