NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. – What started as a normal morning turned into a fight to keep a foot for 18-year-old surf instructor Sam Hollis, who was bitten by a shark while leading a surfing camp on Friday.
“It felt like something clamped down on my foot and yanked me off the board—like something out of a cartoon,” Hollis said.
The attack happened near Ponce Inlet, a spot known for frequent shark bites. Hollis said he’s had close calls before, but this was different. “I’ve been bumped and grazed before, but nothing like this. Now I know what a real bite feels like,” he said.
His friend Jackson Kracht, who visited him in the hospital, admitted he was scared at first. “It was terrifying at the moment, but when you spend a lot of time in New Smyrna, this kind of thing is always a possibility,” he said.
Doctors told Hollis to rest and eat plenty of protein to help his foot heal. Some of the damage reached deep muscle, but he’s staying positive. “If I had to do it all over again, I wouldn’t change a thing,” Hollis said. “I get to keep my foot, and I’ll be back to running, swimming, and surfing soon.”
Sam’s bite is the fourth shark bite reported in New Smyrna Beach this year. The area usually sees five to ten bites annually.
Dr. Gavin Naylor, director of the Florida Program for Shark Research, said the combination of strong waves, lots of baitfish, and crowds of surfers creates the perfect recipe for shark bites. “The waves stir up the water, making it hard for sharks to tell the difference between a fish and a foot,” he explained.
Still, Hollis doesn’t want others to be scared away. “Don’t let fear keep you from doing what you want to do,” he said.