KIE LARGO, Fla. (WFLA) – An 8-year-old boy who was attacked by a shark in Key LARGO on Labor Day is getting stronger every day after undergoing surgery, his family said.
Richard Burrows was snorkeling with his father when the Black-Tip shark thrusts at him and bites his knee, his parents told NBC affiliate WTVJ.
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The boy’s family said his wounds were serious, but they managed to safely get him out of the water with the help of his 10-year-old sister.
911 Call revealed the urgency of the situation. Burrows was bleeding excessively when the boat rushed him to a nearby marina.
The operator asked, “How bad is the bite?” And the caller said, “It’s bad, it’s bad in the knees… I have to stop the bleeding. We’re hot in the marina, maybe five minutes away.”
A tourniquet was applied to Burrows’s foot before he was taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital. His family said he had performed surgery on his feet and was recovering in the hospital.
“Richard has recovered well from his surgery and has gained strength by that day. He’s fine,” the family said.
At a press conference Thursday, doctors said Burrows made 15-20 cuts to the bones around his legs, which coincided with the shark injury. He also suffered minor injuries to his arm, where authorities said he appears to have been bitten for the second time.
He was in the operating room for 3-4 hours, requiring hundreds of sutures. Medical experts at the Jackson Memorial believe that the application of tourniquets prevented his condition from worsening.
In a statement, the family thanked many people who helped save their son’s life, including the Monroe County Sheriff at Jackson Memorial, local drivers, paramedics and surgeons.
They added that they look forward to the day when the hole can return into the water and enjoy their passion for the ocean.
The doctor said he had already asked if Burrows could go spear-run while he was back in the water and in the hospital. They expect him to only need six to eight weeks to recover before he runs around again.
