Teen Bitten by Shark While Fishing in Key Largo
A South Florida teen who says he was only trying to help a shark ended up getting a nasty bite during a fishing trip.
Malec Mata, 15, was in Key Largo casting bait when the small nurse shark got wrapped up in their fishing line. So he decided to jump in the water to help.
"It was upside down underneath the water, so I went to go unwrap the line and he turned around and he swam at my leg," Mata told NBC 6.
Mata can be heard screaming in cellphone video when the alarmed shark took a bite at his thigh.
“I was shocked because I have gone swimming with nurse sharks a lot and they don’t typically act like that," Mata said.
Mata was able to unhook the baby shark, but it sure did leave a mark. The bite was small, but Mata bled a lot.
Mata was stitched up. His mother says she’s glad it wasn't a bigger shark.
“It could have been worse," Mayra Mata said. "We are still in shock, but it was an accident and he knows better now.”
As for the teen, he says he learned his lesson. But the baby shark attack won’t stop him from doing what he loves.
“You shouldn’t go in the water with a shark. I was just trying to help it," he said. “I will still go back, yeah. It’s just not stopping me.”
https://www.nbcmiami.com
10/10/2022 - Malec Mata - Florida
Recent Shark Attacks in 2022 Latest Shark Attacks as they happen in 2022. We also include Shark Attack Related Incidents as they occur in 2022.
10/10/2022 - Malec Mata - Florida
We have another tool we are building at https://sharkattacks.net
Return to “2022 Latest Shark Attacks Recent Shark Attacks 2022”
Jump to
- All Years of Reported Shark Attack Related Incidents
- ↳ 2024 Shark Attacks and Shark Attack Related Incidents
- ↳ 2023 Shark Attacks and Shark Attack Related Incidents
- ↳ 2022 Latest Shark Attacks Recent Shark Attacks 2022
- ↳ 2021 Shark Attacks Recent Shark Attack in 2021
- ↳ 2020 Shark Attacks and Shark Attack Related Incidents
- ↳ 2019 Shark Attacks and Shark Attack Related Incidents
- ↳ 2018 Shark Attacks and Shark Attack Related Incidents 2018
- ↳ 2017 Shark Attacks Latest Recent Shark Attacks 2017 or Attack
- ↳ 2016 Shark Attacks Latest Recent Shark Attacks 2016 or Attack
- ↳ 2015 Shark Attacks Latest Recent Shark Attacks 2015 or Shark Bite
- ↳ 2014 Shark Attacks Latest Recent Shark Attacks 2014 or Attack
- ↳ 2013 Shark Attacks Recent Shark Attacks 2013
- ↳ 2012 Shark Attacks and Related Incidents
- ↳ 2011 Shark Attack and Related Incidents
- ↳ 2010 Shark Attack Related Incidents
- ↳ 2009 Shark Attack Related Incidents
- ↳ 2008 Shark Attacks ~ Shark Attacks 2008
- ↳ 2007 Reported Shark Attacks
- ↳ 2006 Reported Shark Accidents
- ↳ 2005 Reported Shark Incidents
- ↳ 2004 Reported Shark Encounters
- ↳ 2003 Reported Shark Attacks
- ↳ 2002 Reported Shark Bites
- ↳ 2001 Reported Shark Attacks
- ↳ 2000 Reported Shark Attacks
- ↳ 1990 - 1999 Shark Attacks and Related Incidents
- ↳ 1980 - 1989 Shark Attacks and Related Incidents
- ↳ 1970 - 1979 Shark Attack and Related Incidents
- ↳ 1969 and Earlier Shark Attack Incidents