A 16-year-old teenager, Annabelle Carlson, shared her harrowing experience of being attacked by a shark during a scuba diving trip in Belize. While enjoying a scuba excursion with her family in the Gulf of Honduras near Half Moon Caye, Annabelle was confronted by a shark that bit her hands as she entered the water. She recounted throwing punches in self-defense before realizing the severity of the situation.
During the attack, Annabelle’s family attempted to rescue her by throwing a life ring, but a second shark joined the fray and bit her as well. Subsequently, she suffered severe injuries to her leg, with significant damage from below her knee to her ankle. It took nearly 90 minutes for her family to transport her to an island where she could be airlifted to a hospital in Belize City.
At the hospital, Annabelle underwent leg amputation and was later transferred to a facility in Miami for further medical care. Following a month-long hospitalization, she remains optimistic and even dressed up as a shark attack survivor for Halloween, displaying her resilience and positive outlook.
In the aftermath of the incident, Annabelle’s mother expressed gratitude for her daughter’s survival, acknowledging the support from medical professionals and loved ones. The rarity of shark attacks in Belize was highlighted, with only three unprovoked incidents recorded in the past century, making Annabelle’s case one of the most severe.
Shark attacks in Belize typically occur during recreational activities such as scuba diving and spearfishing, predominantly near popular dive spots like the Blue Hole, Halfmoon Caye, and Ambergris Caye. It is noted that provoked incidents involving activities like spearfishing are not included in unprovoked attack statistics.
Overall, Annabelle’s courage and recovery journey serve as a testament to resilience in the face of adversity, with her positive attitude and determination to overcome challenging circumstances.