‘Dragged me underwater’: Shark attack survivor thanks close friend for quick rescue that saved his leg
NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Florida. – A shark attack survivor was able to leave the hospital and return home after a surf trip turned into a race to the bottom. The attack took place last Friday in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, where a surfer’s leg was seriously injured as a result of a bite.
Chris Pospisil and Rhys Redish are close friends who met while surfing during COVID. They live in Brevard County but are always chasing the best wave. That’s what brought them to New Smyrna Beach last weekend, and the shark attack they survived brought them closer than before.
“The shark came out from under me, onto my board and knocked me off the board, and I fell back, I saw my foot in his mouth, and she dragged me under the water,” Pospisil said.
The surfer duo spent the day on the waves and were almost ready to hit the road when their journey turned into survival of the fittest for a 21-year-old University of Central Florida student who is also part of the school’s surf team.
“Immediately, when I surfaced, Rhys was already there, already on me, grabbed my shirt and pulled me onto the board,” he added.
When his friend was in danger, Rhys did not miss a second and set to work.
“I will not leave my friend in the water,” Radish said. “I’m willing to risk myself to help someone.”
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Pospisil is back on crutches, but he has a long road to recovery. He will not be able to use his injured leg for six to eight weeks and will have to receive physical therapy for six months. Doctors removed a shark tooth from his bone and had to repair numerous tendons.
“The top of my foot will go numb in places for the rest of my life, and my foot can be stiff because they had to repair all seven tendons,” he said, describing the injuries he believes were left by the spinner. shark, since the tooth that doctors found in his leg was not serrated.
He is optimistic about his result and recovery and attributes this to the quick reaction of his partner.
“Rice really mattered. You know, if he wasn’t there, I think things could have been a lot worse, and I think I definitely wouldn’t have made it to shore in time and probably passed out in the water. , exclaimed the survivor, thanking his friend.
Even after this ordeal, they don’t want people to be afraid of sharks or the ocean, and don’t believe the shark wanted to kill them. After recovering, both plan to surf again.
“I think I can do it,” Redish said. “I know that I can. When Chris gets better, I will surf with him every day.”
“It didn’t change anything. I will definitely continue to surf. This is my lifestyle, and this is what I love to do, ”concluded Pospisil.
His family is grateful for the outpouring of support. He may have to miss a semester of school due to this recovery and be out of work for quite some time.
GoFundMe was created to help with medical expenses.
