PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. – An Orlando boy celebrated his 9th birthday in a hospital after he was bitten by a shark over the weekend off the Brevard County coast.
[PHOTOS: Boy attacked by shark (Warning: Photo may be considered graphic)]
Christian Sanhueza, along with his parents and sister, was near Patrick Air Force Base on Saturday when Christian was bitten on his foot. The family said the attack happened less than an hour after they arrived at the beach.
On Tuesday, Christian told Local 6 from his hospital bed that he saw the shark's fin and was suddenly taken under.
"When it bit me, when it put its mouth on my foot, it pulled me underneath the water," Christian said.
Christian suffered ligament and tendon damage and had his Achilles severed. He's had two surgeries since the attack and will have to undergo several more to make a full recovery, his family said.
Christian said it will be some time before he gets back into the water.
So far this year, there have been four shark bites recorded in Brevard County and five in Volusia County, according to officials.
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