A 17-year-old boy has been rushed to hospital after being seriously injured when he was bitten by a shark that he dragged onto a boat off the coast of Galveston, Texas. The incident occurred on Monday afternoon, prompting an emergency response from local authorities and the Coast Guard.
Details of the Incident
The teenager was on a boat trip with his father and another person when the bizarre event unfolded. According to reports, the shark was brought onto the vessel, and the bite likely happened as the teen attempted to remove a hook from the shark's mouth. Emergency services were called around 3:30 p.m. after the teen suffered a severe bite to his arm. His father had already applied a tourniquet in an effort to stop the bleeding.
The situation worsened when the boat reportedly lost power, leaving the injured youngster stranded at sea. Police alerted the Coast Guard Command Centre, stating: 'He’s been bleeding for two hours, they’ve placed a tourniquet, but he’s bleeding, lost a lot of blood, barely conscious.' Rescue teams, including the Galveston Island Beach Patrol and the Coast Guard, treated the boy by applying a second tourniquet. He was taken to the University of Texas Medical Branch after reaching land. His current condition remains unknown.
Clarification from Authorities
Galveston County Sheriff Jimmy Fullen clarified that this was not a typical shark attack in the water. 'All the reports were that it was a shark attack, but it wasn’t; [the shark] was actually brought onto the boat and the shark ended up biting [the teen],' Fullen said. He added, 'It’s a possibility getting in the water you may get bitten by a shark. It’s like going into the Everglades, you might get bitten by an alligator.'
Shark Incident Statistics
Shark incidents in Texas are rare, with only 19 recorded since 1911, according to the Florida Museum of Natural History. Its International Shark Attack File (ISAF) investigated 105 alleged shark-human interactions worldwide in 2025, confirming 65 unprovoked bites and 29 provoked bites. The 2025 figures align with the five-year average (2020-2024) of 61 incidents annually.
