A picturesque getaway in the Bahamas for two young American travelers took a terrifying turn when they leaped into the shimmering blue sea together, only to be confronted by a shark just moments later.
On Friday evening, Rileigh Decker, 20, and Summer Layman, 24, were enjoying a swim in Bimini Bay, a well-known resort destination approximately 50 nautical miles from Florida, when they were attacked, according to a statement from the Royal Bahamas Police on Saturday.
The women have returned to Florida, recounting their terrifying experience from Decker’s hospital bed, following bites they attribute to a bull shark.
“We’re incredibly thankful to still be here in one piece,” Decker shared during an appearance on NBC’s “TODAY” show Tuesday.
While enjoying a day at sea from a friend’s yacht, the girls took a dive into the water, but shortly after, Decker reported feeling a strange sensation against her leg.
“I was thinking, ‘Summer, what just happened?’ She exclaimed, ‘Please don’t frighten me like that!’ Just a couple of minutes later, we found ourselves right next to the ladder. “I felt a pull on my leg, and right away I realized I had been bitten by a shark,” Decker remembered.
Their circle of loved ones swiftly rescued them from the water, ensuring their safety. A tourniquet was applied to Decker’s right leg, while Layman was also discovered to be dealing with a bite injury.
“I heard them shout that the top of my foot was shredded, but I didn’t notice until I glanced down,” Layman recounted.
Decker expressed with emotion: “I simply placed my head in my hands and began to pray that God would spare my life and allow me to continue living.” Absolutely terrifying.
Decker was transported by air to a hospital in the Bahamas for additional care. After achieving stability, both individuals were transported back to Florida for Decker’s surgical procedure.
The Bahamas ranks among the top locations globally for shark incidents, having recorded 34 confirmed unprovoked attacks since the start of recordkeeping, as noted by the Florida Museum’s international shark attack database. In 2023, a tragic incident occurred involving a 44-year-old woman from Boston who lost her life due to a shark bite while paddleboarding in the Bahamas. Additionally, in April, a 24-year-old man faced a terrifying attack by two sharks just moments after he fell into the water at a marina.
The women expressed their reluctance to venture into the ocean in the near future.
“I won’t be stepping into the water anytime soon,” Layman stated.
“I will not ever. “I’ll never dip my toes in again,” Decker reiterated.
Decker is preparing for her third surgery in the Orlando region following two previous procedures aimed at cleaning the wound and preventing infection. There is optimism for complete recoveries for both individuals.
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