MIAMI, FL – A Hialeah man recounted a harrowing experience after being bitten by a shark while snorkeling off Boca Chica Key. Yosvani Echevarria, 46, shared the details of his terrifying encounter exclusively with CBS News Miami from Jackson South Medical Center.
Echevarria, who was snorkeling near the beach, described the sudden attack. “I was diving in the water when a shark lunged at me, biting my hands,” he said. The shark, which he identified as a white shark, left him with multiple wounds.
Displaying his injuries, Echevarria revealed, “The shark bit my entire hand, resulting in 27 stitches.” Fortunately, he was near the shore and managed to get help quickly.
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue responded to the incident around 11:30 a.m., assisting Echevarria in controlling the bleeding before transporting him to the hospital. Despite his love for the ocean, Echevarria admitted that it would take time before he felt comfortable returning to the water.
He advised others to exercise caution when entering the ocean, emphasizing, “It could have been much worse. I was lucky it was just bites.”
Echevarria, who emigrated from Cuba three years ago, has been snorkeling in South Florida waters without incident until now. This unexpected encounter marks his first shark attack experience.