Florida Shark Attack: Surfer Hits Bar Instead Of Going To Hospital After Being Bit By Blacktip Or Spinner

A man who suffered a shark attack in Florida decided to hit the bar for a drink before going to the hospital for his wound.

Frank O’Rourke is a competitive surfer who was enjoying a day at Jacksonville Beach in Florida trying to catch some waves. The 23-year-old was near a pier on his board when a shark approached him and bit down on his arm. O’Rourke was then pulled into the water and began struggling to free himself from the shark.

The shark was believed to be either a blacktip or spinner.

“It came out of the water after he went over the back of a wave, and it landed on him, on his board, and kind of knocked him off his board and bit him on the elbow,” witness R.J. Berger said. Berger is friends with O’Rourke and was out surfing with him when he was attacked.

O’Rourke was able to break free and swim back to the beach where he was treated for his wounds by one of the lifeguards on duty. The shark left him with multiple teeth wounds that were reportedly deep and bloody, but not fatal.

Despite the wounds, O’Rourke wasn’t going to let the attack ruin his day.

“He immediately went to a bar because he was like, ‘I got bit by a shark,’ and people were like, ‘I’ll buy you drinks.’ So, he went and hung out at the pier,” Berger continued.

While Berger also said O’Rourke could use a few stitches, he thinks it won’t dissuade O’Rourke from surfing. O’Rourke will reportedly see a doctor Sunday to get his wounds professionally cared for.