Florida surfer suffers shark attacks at same beach 11 years apart
STUART, Florida: After being attacked and being bitten by a shark 11 years back, a Florida man is recovering after being bitten in another shark attack at the same beach this week.
Cole Taschman, 28, was surfing with two friends at Bathtub Beach in Stuart on the state’s east coast last Friday afternoon when the attack occurred, Treasure Coast Newspapers reported.
“As I was paddling against the current, my feet are behind me, they were laying flat on the board, and an about 8- or 9-foot (2.4- or 2.7-meter) either bull shark or tiger shark came up behind me and snatched my feet,” Taschman said.
The attack left three tendons completely torn and one partially torn. After two surgeries, the fishing charter captain now has 93 stitches and about a dozen staples. He spent four days in the hospital before returning home to recover, and he may need another surgery.
In 2013, Taschman was only 16 when a blacktip reef shark bit his hand while he was surfing at the same beach. “Same beach, same exact rock, same place, same reef, same everything,” he noted.
To help with medical expenses, Taschman’s girlfriend started a GoFundMe fundraiser. Ohana Surf Shop in Stuart is also supporting him by raffling off a surfboard or a fishing charter trip, with all proceeds going directly to Taschman.