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CNN Live At Daybreak

American Attacked by Shark in the Bahamas

Aired August 17, 2001 - 07:19   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: Let's turn to that shark attack in the Bahamas.

An American is being treated at this hour in Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami for a bite to the leg.

Arleen Rodriguez of CNN affiliate WSVN TV in Miami joins us now from the hospital with more -- Arleen, what do you know?

ARLEEN RODRIGUEZ, WSVN TV REPORTER: Well, the victim is actually in good condition right now. That's the good news.

But let's set the scene for you. It appears he was out on a boat with his wife doing some fishing when he decided to go in the water to do some snorkeling. Well, when he went in the water, that's when he was attacked.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

(voice-over): Just one station there, and the shark attack victim is flown into Miami International Airport.

The man, believed to be from South Florida, is then rushed to Jackson Memorial Hospital.

LISA COLEMAN, PARAMEDIC: And then he felt a hit. I mean, the bite is called a hit and realized he was in trouble.

RODRIGUEZ: The man staying at a fishing lodge in the Bahamas when his wife says they went out on a boat, and her husband went into the water. That's when the shark chomped at his leg.

COLEMAN: The patient advised that he was snorkeling and fishing. And about 10-15 -- about 10 to 15 feet was in the water when he got hit in the left leg -- the left calf.

RODRIGUEZ: This makes the second shark attack of a tourist in the Bahamas in two weeks.

AVE MARIA THOMPSON, VICTIM'S WIFE: He got up and kissed me goodbye and said he was going swimming. And a few minutes later, I got a call.

RODRIGUEZ: You may remember 36-year-old Krishna Thompson was in the Bahamas with his wife celebrating their 10th wedding anniversary when a shark viciously attacked him as he swam in waist-deep water. Doctors at JMH were forced to amputate his leg just above the knee.

THOMPSON: And he was screaming, and they wouldn't come.

RODRIGUEZ: His wife claiming Bahamian lifeguards didn't do enough to save him. She has now consulted famed attorney Johnny Cochran and plans to sue the resort.

As for this latest shark attack victim...

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The patient was talking. The patient didn't seem to be in any distress at that time.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

RODRIGUEZ: Now, once again, the good news in all of this is that the victim is here at the hospital listed in good condition.

Reporting live from Miami, Arleen Rodriguez -- back to you.

LIN: Thank you, Arleen.

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