Shark Attack: Texas Dentist Vacationing In The Bahamas Attacked By Bull Shark While Spear Fishing


A shark attack recently occurred in the Bahamas when a dentist from Texas was vacationing with his family. Luckily, he survived.

Fox News reports that Dr. Steve Cutbirth was spearfishing when he was suddenly attacked by a bull shark that inflicted wounds to his face and right leg, all of which needed stitches. Cutbirth was treated at a local clinic for his injuries on Saturday. He plans to remain on vacation but must refrain from water activities.

Cutbirth had speared a fish and was reeling in his catch when the shark crashed into him. The dentist described it as if a “football linebacker had crashed into the right side of my head.” He said he was “stunned” and had no idea what happened until he glanced over to his right. It was then he saw the white bottom of the shark’s mouth that was wide open displaying “plenty of teeth” — a scary sight for anyone.

During the shark attack, Cutbirth automatically released the fish and spear and began hitting the shark in the head with his hand. While that momentarily warded it off, the shark was “in full frenzy” going back at him — banging into his side and right leg while searching for the speared fish.

Images were posted on his Facebook page of the shark attack. They’re also seen below. Warning: Some readers may find the following image very graphic.

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The dentist wrote a lengthy message on his Facebook page about what happened during the shark attack in the Bahamas. He wrote that he was in the “wrong place at the wrong time” and that his son-in-law was along with him when they were spearfishing with their ocean guide of 30 years on a small Bahamian island. He was free-diving and spearing hogfish at the time of the incident in about 30 feet of water.

The guide’s nephew caught his own spearfish, which was about 30 to 50 feet away from the hogfish Cutbirth caught at the same time. Although they were quick to deposit the captured fish in a boat to avoid attracting sharks, the dentist said he was unaware that the guide’s nephew had speared a fish or that a six-foot shark had come in so close. It was soon after that the shark made a surprise attack on the dentist.

Dr. Cutbirth was bitten by the shark on his forehead, lip, cheek, right knee, and thigh. There wasn’t a doctor on the small island to treat his wounds, but a nurse stitched the injuries. A photo of the Texas dentist is here with the nurse who helped him.

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Cutbirth and his family will stay in the Bahamas until Friday.

“All in all, no complaints — a very lucky person,” he wrote in the Facebook post. “All men should have a few well-placed scars on their face, don’t you think?”

The dentist concluded his post, “I feel well and will, undoubtedly, heal well.”

In another interview, Dr. Cutbirth said the shark attack in the Bahamas felt like he was “hit by a freight train in the head” before the shark took off with the hogfish.

Cutbirth thanked the public for its show of support and concern since the attack. He’s written many posts on Facebook letting people know that he appreciates their thoughts and that it means a lot to him. Luckily, he’ll fully recover from this shark attack and doesn’t seem deterred from his fishing pursuits the next time he travels to the Bahamas.

The Texas dentist says he’s been diving in the same spot for about 25 years and never encountered problems with sharks before.

[Image via Shutterstock]

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