A man recovering from a shark bite while fishing in Key West said he’s alive because of nearby boaters who jumped in and helped right away, according to reports.
Dave Daniel, 43, was in shallow water on a sandbar Aug. 23 when what “looked like a 6 or 7-foot nurse shark” bit his leg,” he told WSVN 7NEWS.
Nurses happened to be on a nearby boat. They brought Daniel to shore and treated him until help arrived.“If it weren’t for them, I would 100% be dead on the beach,” Daniel told the news station. “Grace to God that they were all medically-trained people and nurses and EMTs.”
What is the status of the man bitten by a shark in Florida?
Daniel has had two surgeries since he was bitten and still has a long recovery road, according to a GoFundMe account set up to help him with bills.
It stated the Silver Springs
resident works as an electrician and does not have health insurance. It’s expected he won’t be able to walk for six to eight weeks while he undergoes extensive physical therapy.
“Because he does not have health insurance, this sudden emergency has created an overwhelming financial burden on top of the physical and emotional toll of recovery,” according to the GoFundMe. “Donations will help cover medical expenses, physical therapy, living expenses, and other costs while Dave is unable to work.”
As of Aug. 31, the account raised close to $10,000
How likely is it to be attacked by a shark in Florida?
With a U.S. population of about 300 million, VISIT FLORIDA says the odds of being attacked by a shark in the United States are roughly 1 in 10 million.
In 2025, Florida saw 11 shark attack cases out of the 25 in the entire country, representing 44% of the U.S. total and 17% of unprovoked bites worldwide. This is still lower than Florida’s most recent five-year annual average of 19 incidents, according to ISAF.
According to the ISAF, the county with the most shark attacks in the state is still Volusia County, which is the “Shark Bite Capital of the World” and home to beaches like Daytona, New Smyrna and Ormond Beach. Volusia saw six out of Florida's 11 attacks.
Michelle Spitzer is a journalist for The USA TODAY NETWORK-FLORIDA. As the network’s Rapid Response reporter, she covers Florida’s breaking news. You can get all of Florida’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday day by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY, at https://floridatoday.com/newsletters
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Man attacked by shark in Florida says he's alive because of bystanders
