PLEASANT GROVE, Utah -- Twelve-year-old Kysen Weakley of Pleasant Grove is back home recovering after he was bit by a shark while vacationing in South Carolina last month.
On June 30, Kysen was playing in knee-deep water with his 7-year-old cousin, when he felt something bite his leg.
“It bit me and I turned around and saw it swimming away. Like the fin swimming away and I could have reached out and grabbed the fin. It was that close,” Kysen said.
Kysen didn’t want his cousin to become the next target, so they quickly got out the water, and ran to his mother and aunt, who were waiting on shore.
His mother Alene, didn’t realize what had just happened
“The first thing that went through my mind is it's a jelly fish bite,” Alene said.
But emergency personnel at the beach confirmed it was a much bigger threat.
“We went over to the ranger and got it cleaned up and then they were like, ‘this is a shark bite. It`s not nothing else, this is a shark bite,’” Kysen said.
Kysen’s mom took him to the emergency room where doctors gave him eight stiches.
While his leg stung and became very sore, the injuries were minor. Kysen was just grateful he didn't lose his leg.
“It was weird because he let go and did not just tear away -- he let go and left,” the 12-year-old said.
Alene believes her youngest son, who didn’t even want to go in the water in the first place, was protected.
Before leaving Charleston, Kysen picked up one more souvenir, a t-shirt, which reads, "Charleston Sharkwatch."
It’s another memento to go along with his harrowing tale.
“The chances of getting bit by a shark are one in 11.5 million,” Kysen said. “So, I was just that lucky one!”
Kysen said he won't be watching jaws anytime soon but he isn't afraid to head back to the ocean. His family plans on hitting up beaches in Southern California before the end of summer.
