(KGTV) - Shark attack survivor Keane Hayes said he thought it was a friend who tackled him as he was lobster diving, but he quickly realized it was a shark.
“I dive down, and then I come back up and feel something tackle me. I knew my shoulder or arm was broken,” the 13-year-old said as he described the ordeal in front of classmates. “I come up, and at first I thought it was Noah, my buddy, trying to mess with me. I look over to where I last saw Noah, and then his snorkel is smaller … it’s not Noah, and then I start seeing blood.”
Keane said he then started swimming to a nearby kayak to head back to Beacon’s Beach. From the beach, Keane said he took a “super-fast” helicopter ride to Rady Children’s Hospital.
Asked what his reaction was to being attacked by the shark, Keane said, “My first reaction was to get to the kayak because if I kept on swimming, I was worried I’d get bit again. I first started screaming, ‘Help,’ ‘shark,’ ‘I’ve been bit.’”
On Thursday, ABC News spoke exclusively with Keane about his experience and his recovery from the Sept. 29 attack in the waters off Beacon’s Beach in Encinitas. Click here to read more
ENCINITAS SHARK ATTACK:
- ABC Exclusive: Keane Hayes speaks on his recovery
- Researchers: Great white shark attacked 13-year-old boy off Beacon's Beach in Encinitas
- Experts gather evidence in hopes of identifying shark that attacked boy
- Teen attacked by shark in Encinitas released from hospital
- What to do if a shark attacks at San Diego County beaches
- Local teacher helped rescue 13-year-old attacked by shark in Encinitas
- Scientists believe great white shark bit boy in Encinitas
- 13-year-old boy attacked by a shark in Encinitas while lobster diving
