It was 4:00 pm Tuesday the 29th of August. Five surfers Nate, Eli, Keenan my brother Sam and I arrived at the south jetty in Florence Oregon. To our surprise there were 3-5 foot mushy peeling rights breaking 100-150 yards off shore and 50 ft south of the jetty. It was a great afternoon, just the five of us and good waves until around 6.45 pm. I was sitting on the back of my 9' yellow 1960's style log when I felt something grab my right foot. I assumed it was a sea lion that thought my foot was a fish (at this point the shark hadn't fully bit down; it had just mouthed my foot.) It pulled me off my board until I was floating chest deep in the water holding onto my board. A 2 ft fin surfaced in to my left and passed in front of my face. At this point I knew what was happening, and began to scream "shark" at the top of my lungs. The shark bit down on my foot and tried to dive deeper. Its tail kicked up a bunch of spray and it began to shake my leg violently. The only thing I could do, I don't even consider it a concise thought more like an instinct, was to stab at the shark with the tail and fin of my board. I landed 3 solid blows as the shark shook my leg and foot. On the 4th shot I missed and by the 5th time he had let go (the whole thing lasted 3-5 seconds but it felt like an hour). I jumped back on my board still screaming (I didn't stop until my fin hit the sand) and paddled for shore hoping my friends would do the same. The whole thing has been so unbelievable. I am really thankful for the support of my friends and family and hope to get back in the water soon.
