A day at the beach turned into a nightmare for one woman in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea.
The harrowing incident occurred Tuesday afternoon near the town’s pier when the unidentified woman was swimming in waist-deep water.
And a Florida woman got the scare of her life when this terrifying ocean predator attacked.
Beachgoers rush to save bleeding swimmer
According to Pompano Beach Fire Rescue, the woman was possibly attacked by a barracuda while enjoying a swim at the popular Florida beach spot.
Jayden Vann, who had been swimming close to the woman just moments before the attack, described the terrifying scene to NBC6.
“Something told me to come in and two minutes after I came in, she was screaming for help,” Vann said. “She was screaming for help and I was the first one to pull her out of the water.”
What Vann saw was shocking.
“The wound, it was just a chunk out of her forearm,” he explained.
Diana Behrman, another witness at the scene, recalled the moment the peaceful beach day was shattered by screams.
“I was sitting in my chair and a young lady started screaming loudly out of the water and she was swelling her arms and she was holding her left arm,” Behrman told NBC6. “One of these guys ran out to help get her out of the water and then someone yelled for a towel because she bleeding pretty profusely.”
Quick-thinking beachgoers become first responders
As the injured woman made it to shore with Vann’s help, other beachgoers sprang into action, using their beach towels as makeshift tourniquets to slow the bleeding.
A man identified only as Besnik told reporters, “I saw her bleeding, so I applied pressure and applied a makeshift tourniquet.”
The quick thinking of these everyday heroes likely prevented a much worse outcome.
The woman remained conscious throughout the ordeal, despite suffering what witnesses described as a “nasty bite.”
Emergency services arrived promptly at the scene, where they treated the woman before transporting her to Broward Health North.
According to Fire Rescue officials, her injuries were serious but not life-threatening.
Barracudas: Florida’s lesser-known predators
While shark attacks tend to dominate headlines, barracudas are another potentially dangerous predator in Florida waters that often receive less attention.
Barracudas are predatory fish known for their fearsome appearance, with large, pointed teeth and powerful jaws.
They typically grow to about 5-6 feet in length and can be found in tropical and subtropical waters worldwide, including off Florida’s coast.
Though barracuda attacks on humans are rare, they can occur, especially in murky water where the fish might mistake shiny objects like jewelry or watches for small prey fish.
Wildlife officials have not yet confirmed the specific marine animal involved in Tuesday’s incident, but Pompano Beach Fire Rescue’s initial assessment points to a barracuda as the likely culprit.
Woman expected to recover
Despite the traumatic experience and significant blood loss, authorities have indicated the woman is expected to make a full recovery. Her identity has not been disclosed to the public.
The incident serves as a sobering reminder that even in shallow, waist-deep water, marine predators can pose unexpected dangers to swimmers.
This attack comes during the start of the summer beach season in Florida, when thousands of residents and tourists flock to the state’s beautiful beaches every day.
