An eight-year-old boy is lucky to be alive after being bitten by a shark while snorkeling off the Florida coast on Labor Day — and it was his 10-year-old sister’s quick action that saved him.
Richard Burrows was snorkeling in the waters of Key Largo near John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park when a blacktip reef shark attacked, leaving him with a serious injury, according to the Miami Heral
An eight-year-old boy is recovering after a terrifying shark attack in Key Largo, Florida, thanks to the quick actions of his 10-year-old sister, their father, and a passing dive captain.
Richard Burrows was snorkeling with his sister Rose and their father David, 48, near John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park on Labor Day when a blacktip reef shark bit him on the knee.
According to a family statement, the injury was “significant” but was quickly contained with the help of multiple people. Rose played a crucial role in the rescue, helping her father hold Richard’s leg up to control the bleeding while David applied a tourniquet.
A nearby commercial dive captain, Richard Hayden, 33, also rushed to assist, applying a second tourniquet and guiding the family’s boat to shore. In a frantic 911 call obtained by local outlets, a man on board could be heard saying: “We’ve got a massive shark bite on board… it’s bad, just at the knee. I gotta stop the bleeding.”
Emergency responders met the family at Garden Cove Marina, where Richard was airlifted to Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami.
Doctors performed surgery Monday night, saving his leg. Sheriff Rick Ramsay confirmed Richard is recovering well and “in good spirits.”
While Hayden suggested to deputies that the family may have been spearfishing — an activity banned in Monroe County due to its potential to attract sharks — the Burrows family maintained they were only snorkeling when the attack happened.
In their statement, the family praised Rose for her bravery and composure: “Richard’s 10-year-old sister, Rose, was instrumental in her brother’s rescue, and both of her parents are immensely proud of the strength of character she demonstrated under pressure.”
They added: “Richard is recovering well from his surgery and is gaining strength by the day. Our hope is that he will be back enjoying his passion for the ocean and marine life with his older sister in no time.”
