GALVESTON BEACH, Texas – A 17-year-old boy was rushed to the hospital Monday afternoon after suffering serious injuries from a shark bite while aboard a boat offshore near Galveston, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.
Around 3:50 p.m., the Galveston County Sheriff’s Office received a call regarding the emergency and contacted the Coast Guard for assistance.
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Details surrounding the incident remain limited, but officials confirmed the teen was boating with his father and a third person when the emergency unfolded.
According to information confirmed by the Coast Guard, the group was returning toward the Galveston Yacht Basin when their boat became disabled near the jetties.
Sources reported the boat may have been several hours offshore before turning back, though the Coast Guard said it could not independently confirm how far out the vessel had traveled.
Authorities said the teen had a tourniquet applied before rescue crews arrived in an effort to stop severe bleeding from the bite.
Coast Guard crews responded to the scene, where officials said they applied a second tourniquet and transported the teen and his father to awaiting EMS personnel.
Despite the severity of the situation, officials said the 17-year-old was conscious and alert during the rescue. Sources later confirmed the teen was transported to the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) in Galveston for treatment.
No additional information about the teen’s condition or the exact nature of the injury has been released.