A Minnesota family saw their planned tropical trip become a nightmare when their 9-year-old autistic child was bitten by a shark at a beach in South Florida on Sunday.
“A shark tried to eat me at sea,” said the young Jay Weiskopf of the four-foot-long shark. He left the Jackson Memorial Hospital of Miami on Tuesday after receiving 120 stitches.
“There was a wave coming and we were surfing just like our body, and when he got up he just said ‘Ow’, and there was only a piece missing on his shoulder,” said his mother, Kristine Weiskopf, told WSVN. in Miami.
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The family was on spring vacation from Minnesota, and Jay was in the water for just five minutes when he was attacked.
The mother rescued the son from the waves and Miami Beach Fire Rescue met the family on the sand.
Florida is a haven for shark attacks, but not only in this country. According to the Florida Museum file, the Sunshine State is the number one place for shark attacks in the world.
Almost all attacks are not fatal year after year.
Kristine said she is grateful that her son is so tough and that she is happy that he is well.
“It’s obviously a traumatic, horrific event, but we just thank God it’s over,” said Ren Weiskopf, Jay’s father.
The mother now wants to keep her little boy close; she has slept next to him since the assault and she wants to hug him constantly.
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The family knows that his recovery has just begun.
“No beach and no ocean,” Jay said.