Liam Modzelewski, 12, was teaching his friend to surf when he was bitten by a shark Aug. 30.
The 7th grader was with his family at Folly Beach, and Liam was in waist-deep water holding a surfboard while his friend prepared to catch a wave.
Just before noon, Liam was flat-footed in the water when the force of a wave pushed him up. As his feet lifted off the bottom, a shark grabbed his right foot.
He began calling for help and warning that a shark was in the water. The teen and his friend quickly paddled roughly 50 yards to shore. At same, time two good Samaritans headed toward the boys.
Alex Deibert and his wife, Jessica, a nurse, helped the boys onto the beach. Jessica wrapped Liam’s foot to stop the bleeding and called 911.
Liam’s mother, Tenna Modzelewski, who is also a nurse, heard the commotion and ran to her son.
She said Liam was in immense pain, screaming and going into shock but, thankfully, medical personnel arrived and quickly collected the young surfer. After being taken to the hospital Liam underwent surgery to repair his foot.
“Liam was so fortunate because the shark only severed a sensory nerve and took a small piece of heel bone,” Teena told Tracking Sharks. “He has no major tendon, ligament, bone or other nerve damage.”
Liam is recovering well and has been researching shark attacks and has been looking at other bite wounds to see if he can figure out what type of shark bite him.
“He is doing great! In good spirits and still loves sharks!” Teena said.
The incident is not going to keep Liam out of the water for long. He plans on sailing, boating and surfing as soon as he heals.
Eleven days earlier, another beach-goer also had a run-in with a shark South Carolina.
Nicole Stower was wading off the Grand Stand in Myrtle Beach Aug. 19.
As the Pittsburgh native was floating by her 9- and 14-year-old children, she felt something impact her arm. At first, she thought a nearby boat had run into her, but then spotted something grey moving in the water.
She quickly gathered her children and headed into shore. Lifeguards dialed 911 after seeing exposed muscle through the small lacerations around her elbow.
Stower was taken to the hospital and is expected to make a full recovery.
Both locations have been marked on the 2020 Shark Attack Map.
