LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – A Las Vegas woman shares with FOX5 her account of a Florida shark attack as officials urge out-of-town beachgoers to practice safety precautions and be aware of their surroundings.
The ordeal happened in late May in the town of Lauderdale-By-The-Sea, just south of the City of Pompano Beach. Pompano Beach fire crews are contracted to respond to emergencies in the area, a Pompano Beach city spokesperson said.
Emily Ross, a computer programmer, traveled to Florida with her mother’s friend to celebrate the anniversary of her mother’s passing.
This was Ross’ first trip to Florida.
Ross was snorkeling in waist-deep water before the attack. Underwater cameras from the City of Pompano Beach show the sea life native to the area: viewers can spot an abundance of fish, coral reefs, crustaceans, manatees, and even occasional barracudas or sharks.
“I was just wandering around looking at the fish, and then I saw the tail of the shark,” Ross said. “It came in so incredibly quick and grabbed onto me. I didn’t feel the bite, I just felt the pressure,” she said. Ross kept kicking in the water to drive the shark away.
Ross ran towards shore and called for help. She credits two Good Samaritans named “Ivan” and “Kim for creating a tourniquet to stop the profuse bleeding.
Emergency responders at the scene noted that the wound was the “size” of a barracuda bite but did not know the exact creature responsible, a Pompano Beach city spokesperson tells FOX5. Ross witnessed a smaller shark with black “tips”: the Florida Museum states that Blacktip sharks are native to tropical and coastal waters.
Ross underwent emergency surgery and received skin grafts at an area trauma center.
Upon return to Las Vegas, Ross continues to go through grueling physical therapy sessions to restore full use of her hand. Ross hopes to work in her profession again, soon.
“I’m still angry. There’s this weird multitude of feelings that I have,” Ross said. “It is so uncommon, and for it to happen in such a way that I wasn’t even doing anything cool. I’ve definitely dove depths seeing sharks and I’ve never had any negative experiences,” Ross said, who has experience scuba diving in other parts of the world.
Though Ross had previously worked as a lifeguard, she now urges others to swim around areas staffed by safety officials.
“It doesn’t matter how strong of a swimmer you are, you should watch out to only swim when there’s lifeguards present. This is something that I take full responsibility for,” Ross said.
There are no lifeguards in that area of Lauderdale-By-The-Sea, according to a spokesperson for the City of Pompano Beach. Officials provide the following advice for beachgoers:
- Only swim near a lifeguard. If there’s an emergency, someone can quickly respond and assist.
- Be aware of your surroundings. Just as hikers in the woods must be on the lookout for wildlife, swimmers must be aware of what else is nearby in the water.
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