North Carolina Man Describes Surviving Terrifying Shark Attack
- Posted on August 15, 2011 at 8:19pm by
Billy Hallowell
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For most people, shark attack tales seem more like Hollywood horror stories than they do realistic prospects. But, for 54-year-old Donnie White, the unimaginable happened just days ago.
While enjoying a day with family on beautiful waters in Beaufort Inlet, N.C., White decided to take a swim in the ocean to cool off. As he was heading back onto the boat, a shark attacked him, inflicting a nearly foot-long wound into his leg.
Luckily, White was able to gather the strength to pull himself onto the boat, thus escaping further danger. Of course, he was losing a lot of blood as a result of the injury and was quickly rushed for emergency assistance. In addition to treating the gaping wound, doctors removed a large shark tooth from his leg:
WNCT.com has more:
White’s family told EMS is was an 8 foot bull shark that bit him on the lower part of his right leg. White was transferred to Carteret General Hospital. Hospital staff tell us he’s in good condition and went home to recover. Downum grew up in the Beaufort Inlet area and spent his life since childhood on the water, so a shark attack doesn’t scare him. He says, “It’s something that you know is a possibility- but, it’s rare.”
White and his family also appeared on ABC’s “Good Morning America” to discuss the ordeal:
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Riccy102
Posted on August 17, 2011 at 1:21amHe jumped into the water where he was fishing?
As Hooper said in the movie, “Jaws”…
” I‘m not going to waste my time arguing with a man who’s lining up to be a hot lunch.”
Report Post »treyharris5
Posted on August 17, 2011 at 1:45pmMy name is trey, i was on the boat. after we finished fishing, we were driving back home when one of my cousins asked if we could get in and swim. Therefore we were not in the water where the wreck and the chummed water was (we are not stupid.) We checked the map and sonar to make sure there was nothing around us. Im not blaming the shark for attacking him; we were in his ocean. But he did not jump on top of the shark adn there was no shark wen we stopped to swim. And yes, there are stupid people who do stupid things and get on the news… but this is not one of those things. If you fish, getting in the water to cool of is kinda a common practice
Report Post »SpeckChaser
Posted on August 16, 2011 at 10:15pmWhat exactly was the point of your comment?
Report Post »ChiefGeorge
Posted on August 16, 2011 at 11:39amWhy does this country celebrate stupidity. This story back in the day would not have gotten airplay because it was not a tragic unforeseen situation. It was avoidable! Todays media however loves to tell stories when stupid people do stupid things…..it fits an agenda they have. Get it?
ThomasUSA
Posted on August 16, 2011 at 9:05amThe cage goes into the water… you go into the water… the sharks in the water… our Shark… (Grins and begins to sing.)
Report Post »Farewell and adieu, to you fair spanish ladies. Farewell and adieu, you ladies of Spain. For we’ve just received orders, for to sail back to Boston. And so nevermore, shall we see you again.
(Quint)
ChiefGeorge
Posted on August 16, 2011 at 11:36amI’ll never put a life vest on Brody!
Report Post »SAYNOTOSOCIALISM
Posted on August 16, 2011 at 8:48amPic looks like a 1939 Jefferson nickel… either way, I wouldn’t want a shark tooth of any size in my leg.
Report Post »smithclar3nc3
Posted on August 16, 2011 at 9:26amYeah but he survived as has a cool story to tell at the pub,at a party ,and to his grandkids.
Report Post »robinraleigh
Posted on August 16, 2011 at 7:43amI agree with so many of the posts here…the guy was fishing in the spot all day, then he decides to enter the water himself? Agreed: he’s an idiot.
Report Post »football lady
Posted on August 16, 2011 at 6:44pmWhat’s your problem? Can’t you all just be thankful the man survived and no one else was attacked? Get a grip!
Report Post »citizen b
Posted on August 16, 2011 at 3:03ama shark tooth smaller than a nickel is not large. damn liberal media distortion again.
Report Post »treyharris5
Posted on August 17, 2011 at 1:47pmIf you had been on the boat like me and watched the shark attack him, you would be able to see with your own eyes how big he was. the one that bit him was at least 8 ft, and there were multiple other sharks ranging from 6-12ft
Report Post »fastfacts
Posted on August 16, 2011 at 1:23amWE TOOK ONE OF THEIR’S TODAY SO THEY TRIED TO TAKE ON OF OURS…
An Aussie caught a 575 lbs shark. They just had to have one of our large ones as well. ( http://url2it.com/gpit )
Report Post »Trowerpower
Posted on August 15, 2011 at 11:24pmIf it was a Bull shark why are they showing a pic of a tiger shark? Poor guy,I will never go into a ocean after watching jaws,I don’t care what the odds are..
Report Post »SpankDaMonkey
Posted on August 15, 2011 at 9:30pm.
Report Post »Taste’s like chicken………..
Salamander
Posted on August 15, 2011 at 10:16pmChewy on the outside, crunchy on the inside!
Report Post »Bonnieblue2A
Posted on August 15, 2011 at 9:06pmI know someone who survives a shark attack more than 30 years ago. To this day he still suffers recurring nightmares of the event. This man was truly fortunate to survive.
Report Post »Gypsy123
Posted on August 15, 2011 at 8:53pmIt is not wise to swim in the inlets in NC I see sharks all the time out in the inlets on our boat. Also alot of them around bald head island some in feeding frenzy’s.
Report Post »John Disc 19320
Posted on August 15, 2011 at 9:25pmHe wasn[t in the inlet. He jumped out where they were fishing 7-10 MILES off the coast, probably over a rock pile or wreck. That tooth looked to be less that 1/2″ long compared to the quarter, I wouldn’t call that large. Of course you don’t need large teeth to do a lot of damage.
Report Post »chazman
Posted on August 15, 2011 at 8:51pm… look, on land we rule. Dive into the ocean, yer bait. Never forget that. Two feet of water,
Report Post »yer bait … 20,000 feet of water, yer bait. This guy is lucky to be alive! Yer gonna have a nice scar, dude! The babes are gonna love it!
GardenoftheGods
Posted on August 15, 2011 at 8:51pmCan you hear the sounds of rocks rattling behind that Jaws theme? I agree theme music needs that banjo twang! Who fishes ALL day & then jumps in the water (they’ve been chumming all day)? Dumb, dumb, dumb! Glad he‘s ok tho’!
Report Post »banjarmon
Posted on August 16, 2011 at 12:14amHey, I play a BANJO and I’m still not DUMB ENOUGH TO SWIM WITH SHARKS! I do know some things in the WH I would like to use for bait.
Report Post »treyharris5
Posted on August 17, 2011 at 1:51pmI was on the boat, we did not get in the watrer where we were fishing (that would be stupid and asking to get bit), we drove back home approxiametly 3 miles and after we checked the map and sonar, we decided to get in teh water
Report Post »On The Bayou
Posted on August 15, 2011 at 8:48pmAnd the pop up to the right is very agravating just so you know Blaze. I can look through these news stories just fine thank you.
Report Post »On The Bayou
Posted on August 15, 2011 at 8:46pmHey Blaze stop messing with the comments, i want to view comments old to new.
Report Post »nevragain
Posted on August 15, 2011 at 8:43pmHe swam in the same area where they had been fishing all day? We don’t call that a “Shark Attack” down here in SC. At that point the shark is pretty much obligated to bite him. What an idiot.
Report Post »treyharris5
Posted on August 17, 2011 at 1:54pmI was on the boat (the captain), my name is Trey. Your right, to jump in the water where you were fishing would bascially be committing suicide. However we did not do that. we drove back home about three miles, then checked the map and sonar to make sure there was no wreck around that sharks could be on, THEN we got in the water.
Report Post »thegreatcarnac
Posted on August 15, 2011 at 8:27pmQue the ‘Jaws’ theme…only play it with a banjo.
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