Texas Teen Suffers Shark Bite Off Galveston’s Coast

A Texas teenager sustained severe injuries after a shark bit him during a boating trip with his father over Memorial Day weekend. The incident occurred on Monday around 3:15 p.m., according to reports from ABC 13 and FOX 61.

The 17-year-old, along with his father and another person, was on a boat approximately two hours from shore when the shark bit him. Authorities indicated that the teen was trying to pull the shark onto the boat at the time.

Initial aid came from the teen’s father, who applied a tourniquet to his son’s wound. They attempted to return to the Galveston Yacht Basin, but the boat became disabled near the Gulf’s jetties. The U.S. Coast Guard responded to the situation, providing a second tourniquet and transporting the teen to safety.

Upon reaching shore, the victim remained conscious and received further medical care at the University of Texas Medical Branch. Details about the severity of his injuries or the shark species were not disclosed by officials.

The Galveston County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Coast Guard have yet to clarify the circumstances of the boat’s malfunction or the method by which the shark was initially brought onto the boat.

Julia Bonavita, a U.S. writer and Fox Flight Team drone pilot for Fox News Digital, contributed to this report. She can be followed on social media platforms @juliabonavita13 and accepts story tips at [email protected].