Shark Bites Florida Teenager's Face While He Was Catching Lobster

An unexpected incident happened to a family during their visit to the Florida Keys. A shark jumped and bit the face of a 13-year-old boy who was on a lobster expedition with his parents.

Fischer Hricko, 13, was looking in the water for traces of the crustaceans and did not expect a nurse shark to emerge and aim for his face. The next thing his parents heard was his scream.

Mom Rhiannon Hricko, who was navigating the boat, said it was the "scariest five minutes" of her life. The terror in her son's voice was something she could not erase in her memory, per her interview with Fox 35 Orlando. Dad Kent Hricko saw the blood gushing out of his son's face and did not realize a shark had bit his son.

The family rushed to the hospital, where Fischer needed ten stitches on his lip, which was split by the shark bite. Fischer said the stitches hurt "every so often," but he is generally feeling fine after the initial shock has passed.

Why was the shark in shallow water?

Fisher and Kent were looking for lobsters while wading through the shallow waters of the Florida Keys. Rhiannon was left on the boat as she had to ensure they would still have a ride back to the docks. Besides, she said that she never gets in the water when they are lobstering.

Per Daily Mail, the odds of a shark attack is one in four million. Contrary to common belief, most sharks are passive and submissive; they are not killers.

However, as the waters are getting warmer due to climate change, experts believe that the probability of getting accidentally bitten by sharks will rise. These fishes will venture closer to the shallow waters as they change and expand their ranges, trying to adjust to many unknown climate change variables.

The International Shark Attack File said that Florida's beaches had at least six potential shark attacks from June 30 to July 20, 2022. Coastlines have had many activities as well; thus, shark patrols have expanded in some cities.

Florida teen will still go back to the water

Despite his scare, Fischer said he would still return to the water and do what he loves with his family. He said staying positive will help him heal faster. His father told Click Orlando that the 13-year-old is staying tough.

The family also lauded the urgent care clinic that took care of Fischer's shark bite and made everyone feel calmer. The boy didn't need to be confined but rested at home. The next day, he was back in the water but didn't look for lobsters. Instead, he hooked a shark at least four feet long but did not reel it in.

His parents said Fischer would have something cool to tell his classmates when he's back in school in Oviedo.