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CNN Live At Daybreak

Florida Surfer Discusses Shark Attack

Aired August 20, 2001 - 08:28   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: In the meantime, keep your fingers crossed if you're going off into the waters off the coast of Florida.

We have been telling you about shark attacks recently. But how about six attacks in two days? Well, it happened this weekend in and around Daytona Beach during a surfing competition, and Jeff White was one of the competitors and one of the victims. He is in Smyrna Beach, Florida.

And Jeff, I heard you just got out of the hospital. How are you feeling?

JEFF WHITE, SURFER BITTEN BY SHARK: All right. I had some infection spreading throughout my foot, so I had to go back and get some antibiotic through an IV treatment. And I have to go back later on this evening and have the same thing done again just to kind of prevent some gangrene from spreading.

LIN: It sounds like a lot of pain there. Tell me what happened to you? How did you know that you were bitten by a shark?

WHITE: Well, just being a surfer, you kind of have the knowledge of knowing that they are out there, and just the pain. The initial bite was not too severe of a pain, just because my adrenaline and the shock, I think, set in. What happened...

LIN: Did you see the shark?

WHITE: ... is I was riding my...

LIN: Go ahead. I was just wondering if you saw the shark.

WHITE: I didn't see it. I didn't see it until after it bit me actually. So I didn't - I can't tell what like type it was just because I'm not familiar with the types of shark. But there were saying that it might have been a bull shark or a sand shark of some sort.

LIN: So tell me what happened next?

WHITE: I was on my board, and I caught a wave, and I had, I guess, jumped off the board or fell off or whatever. And my story - I think that the shark was somehow like lurking underneath me or whatever and saw the splash. And I pulled myself up onto my board, and by then it had already grabbed my foot. And it was too late.

So I went into shore, and I started running up and down the beach kind of looking for some help. And Tracy Cason (ph) and David Williams, a couple of lifeguards, were right there to help me out. They bandaged me all up. And then I was on my way to the hospital.

LIN: Did you guys know there were sharks in the water before you started the competition?

WHITE: Yes, we did. There was, I would say, a bunch of schools out there. So it was pretty obvious that they were out there.

LIN: So why in the world would you go into the water?

WHITE: It's just something you've got to deal with if you want to compete and have that adrenaline rush when you're actually out there surfing. It's just a great recreation.

LIN: Yes. I'd say so. It's not exactly my idea of fun, Jeff. But anyway, you know, the odds are so against us. I mean, all of the experts say that you are more likely to be struck by lightning than you are to be bitten by a shark.

WHITE: That's true.

LIN: And isn't it true that you were once struck by lightning?

WHITE: Yes, I was. Two years ago, I was on a surf trip in Costa Rica, and I got struck by lightning.

LIN: So, Jeff, do your friends kind of try to avoid you? I mean, do they think that you're a little accident prone?

WHITE: Yes, they might say that.

LIN: What do you think?

WHITE: I just think I am very blessed actually, because I have survived both of them - lightning strike and a shark bite now. So maybe I'm - maybe God has got some big plans for me or something.

LIN: You bet. Jeff White for president. All right. Thanks so much. Thanks for joining us, and I hope you heal real fast.

WHITE: No problem. All right.

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