Annabelle Carlson, a 16-year-old from Aspen, recounts the terrifying moment her family vacation in Belize turned into a life-or-death struggle. Speaking to Nexstar’s KDVR, Annabelle described how an ordinary summer adventure turned horrifying. “I would never anticipate I would be attacked by a shark, but here I am,” she said, reflecting on the unexpected ordeal. The trip had started as a joyful family getaway, full of scuba diving and ocean exploration.
Face-to-Face with Danger
Three days into their Central American holiday, Annabelle and her mother were scuba diving at 120 feet when they noticed a few sharks swimming nearby. Curious marine life drew their attention, but the danger came quickly. When Annabelle jumped off the top deck of their tourist boat with her siblings, she was met by a shark that emerged from below, immediately biting her hands.
“I decided to go first. When I jumped and hit the water, a shark came from under the boat and started biting my hands,” she recalled. Using quick thinking, she punched the shark six times to fend off the attack, even as another shark bit her right leg.
Life-Saving Instincts and Quick Thinking
Amidst the chaos, fellow divers threw Annabelle a life ring, but her mangled hands made it difficult to grab. As she clung on with her arms in a loop, passengers on the boat launched heavy oxygen tanks at the attackers to disrupt them. Crucially, a tourist in the dive group provided a tourniquet that ultimately saved her life.
“And that’s when we realised that the boat itself, the first aid kit, didn’t actually have the right medical equipment for life-saving measures,” Annabelle explained. “So this guy — who I’m so thankful for — that was a tourist in our dive group threw me a tourniquet that he had. They put that on my leg to stop the bleeding.”
Fighting to Stay Awake
Annabelle credits her survival to forcing herself to remain conscious during the 90-minute boat ride back to shore, where an emergency helicopter awaited. “The hardest thing I’ve ever had to do in my life was stay awake,” she admitted. “Because at that point I didn’t really realise that my falling asleep would mean falling unconscious and possibly not making it out.”
Recovery and Resilience
Despite surviving the attack, Annabelle suffered severe injuries, including a rare mycobacterial infection that rendered half of her right leg unsaveable. Dr Julia Sanders of Children’s Hospital Colorado, who treated Annabelle, emphasized the severity of her condition: “We’ve had to take her back for multiple surgeries because of that infection. And so that has just set her back again and again.”
Yet Annabelle’s determination has been remarkable. Dr Sanders noted, “She is already back running on a prosthetic limb, working out. She does pilates. She’s just an incredible kid. She’s been back scuba diving. So really just a reminder of how resilient kids can be.”
Annabelle’s story is a testament to human resilience and quick thinking in life-threatening moments, showing how courage and presence of mind can make the difference between survival and tragedy.
Face-to-Face with Danger
Three days into their Central American holiday, Annabelle and her mother were scuba diving at 120 feet when they noticed a few sharks swimming nearby. Curious marine life drew their attention, but the danger came quickly. When Annabelle jumped off the top deck of their tourist boat with her siblings, she was met by a shark that emerged from below, immediately biting her hands.
“I decided to go first. When I jumped and hit the water, a shark came from under the boat and started biting my hands,” she recalled. Using quick thinking, she punched the shark six times to fend off the attack, even as another shark bit her right leg.
Life-Saving Instincts and Quick Thinking
Amidst the chaos, fellow divers threw Annabelle a life ring, but her mangled hands made it difficult to grab. As she clung on with her arms in a loop, passengers on the boat launched heavy oxygen tanks at the attackers to disrupt them. Crucially, a tourist in the dive group provided a tourniquet that ultimately saved her life.
“And that’s when we realised that the boat itself, the first aid kit, didn’t actually have the right medical equipment for life-saving measures,” Annabelle explained. “So this guy — who I’m so thankful for — that was a tourist in our dive group threw me a tourniquet that he had. They put that on my leg to stop the bleeding.”
Fighting to Stay Awake
Annabelle credits her survival to forcing herself to remain conscious during the 90-minute boat ride back to shore, where an emergency helicopter awaited. “The hardest thing I’ve ever had to do in my life was stay awake,” she admitted. “Because at that point I didn’t really realise that my falling asleep would mean falling unconscious and possibly not making it out.”
Recovery and Resilience
Despite surviving the attack, Annabelle suffered severe injuries, including a rare mycobacterial infection that rendered half of her right leg unsaveable. Dr Julia Sanders of Children’s Hospital Colorado, who treated Annabelle, emphasized the severity of her condition: “We’ve had to take her back for multiple surgeries because of that infection. And so that has just set her back again and again.”
Yet Annabelle’s determination has been remarkable. Dr Sanders noted, “She is already back running on a prosthetic limb, working out. She does pilates. She’s just an incredible kid. She’s been back scuba diving. So really just a reminder of how resilient kids can be.”
Annabelle’s story is a testament to human resilience and quick thinking in life-threatening moments, showing how courage and presence of mind can make the difference between survival and tragedy.
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