An afternoon fishing outing off Ossabaw Island turned into a frantic race for help on Wednesday when a 13-year-old boy was bitten by a shark, sending a boat full of teenagers speeding back to shore and neighbors at the dock scrambling into action.
Witnesses said a boat carrying three teenagers pulled up to the Sunbury Crab Docks with one youth badly wounded on his right thigh. People on the dock rushed to close the gap, grabbed first-aid supplies and worked to stop the bleeding until emergency crews could get there. The injured teen was taken to a local hospital, and officials had not released his name or condition by Wednesday night.
According to Atlanta News First, U.S. Coast Guard watchstanders in Charleston received the report at about 4:06 p.m. and coordinated with Liberty County emergency crews to meet the vessel at the Sunbury Crab Docks. Local station WSB‑TV reports that the victim was 13 years old, and radio traffic captured by regional outlets indicated that emergency crews converged on the dock within minutes.
How the Bite Happened
Witnesses told reporters the teens had been fishing when they hooked a large shark, estimated at roughly five to six feet long. While they tried to unhook it, the animal reportedly clamped onto the boy’s right thigh. That account came from people on scene and local coverage of the rescue at Ossabaw Island, and WTOC reported those details based on bystander interviews.
Neighbors and First Responders
Dock neighbors grabbed first-aid kits, towels and whatever else they could reach, then helped load the injured teenager as the Coast Guard and EMS units arrived at the Sunbury Crab Docks. “I ran to my car and grabbed my jump bag thinking we need a tourniquet,” McIntosh County EMS volunteer BJ Comer told reporters, recalling the rush to stabilize the wound.
The Coast Guard and local EMS transferred the patient from the dock to a nearby hospital, according to local coverage from WTOC. Officials did not immediately share further medical updates.
How Experts Classify This Encounter
Because witnesses say the shark was hooked and being handled when it bit the teen, the incident fits the Florida Museum of Natural History International Shark Attack File definition of a provoked bite, a category that includes injuries sustained while removing hooks or otherwise interacting directly with sharks. The International Shark Attack File notes that provoked incidents are tracked separately from unprovoked attacks and that annual totals can fluctuate, and researchers emphasize that serious shark and human encounters remain uncommon along the U.S. Atlantic coast.
Authorities have not yet identified the shark species involved, and local wildlife or public safety officials did not immediately release additional medical details. In the meantime, officials are reminding anglers to use caution when handling large catches and to call for professional help quickly in the event of severe injuries.
.jpg){kind=link}