Survivor, 13, Recounts Shark Attack on North Hutchinson Island

A harrowing tale of a shark attack took center stage in St. Lucie County, Florida earlier this week, when a 13-year-old girl was attacked by a bull shark while swimming in the ocean on North Hutchinson Island. According to reports, the teenager, Ella Reed, was bitten several times by the shark, leaving her with some nasty injuries.

Despite the frightening ordeal, Reed returned to Fort Pierce Inlet State Park less than 24 hours after the incident, demonstrating the bravery and resilience she exhibited throughout the whole experience. Apparently, the bite marks and stitches she was left with weren’t enough to keep her out of the water. The attack is presumed to have been caused by a 4-foot-long bull shark, one of the most common shark species to inhabit the Florida coast.

Reed recalled the moment the shark attacked her, describing how it went straight for her stomach and then continued to bite her arm, finger, and leg. She reported feeling no pain initially due to the adrenaline, but she and her friends were still incredibly shocked by what had happened. Ella ran out of the water, and a friend drove her home on a golf cart.

The teenager’s mother, Devin Reed, was understandably terrified and impressed with her daughter’s bravery throughout the incident. Ella’s mother said she had never really worried about a shark attack before, despite living in the area for over 20 years and seeing them frequently in the water. She recounted going into ‘automatic fix it’ mode once it became clear that the attack was no prank.

Despite the potentially traumatic experience, Ella managed to remain calm and collected throughout, even telling the nurses at the hospital to take pictures. Her mother praised her daughter’s bravery in the face of adversity, saying that she was impressed with how calm she remained throughout the whole experience. Ella is clearly already planning her return to the ocean once her stitches are removed, adamant that the attack won’t keep her out of the water for long.

The story of Ella’s shark attack serves as a reminder that these creatures are a common presence in the waters off the Florida coast and that it’s essential to stay vigilant and aware when swimming in the ocean. Though shark attacks are still rare, it’s important to take precautions to ensure safety at all times. We wish Ella a speedy recovery and all the best for her future ocean adventures.