Shark Attacks MMA Fighter at Florida Surf Spot; Injury Looks Like 'Halloween Prop'

Dashel Pierson
·2 min read
22

On November 5th, Steve Reinhardt was attacked by a shark.

The 60-ish year old, who is very active with running, swimming and training MMA, was about 100 yards out to sea at Juno Beach, a popular surf spot in south Florida.

That’s when he was bitten on the arm, sustaining injuries that he said resemble a “Halloween prop.” Although unconfirmed, Reinhardt believes it was a bull shark.

"It just felt something hit my arm and thrash it," Reinhardt told WPTV. "I lifted my arm up and it looked like a Halloween prop. I could see the muscles hanging and blood and the bone and I thought, 'Oh man,' so I said I just got to get into shore before I bleed out, so I just kept my arm out of the water and swam for shore."

Onshore, a bystander acted quickly and made a tourniquet; luckily no major arteries were severed in the attack.

"I never thought I'd get bit," Reinhardt said. "I grew up in Florida. I've been doing this for 30 years, at least."

As for the damage, despite no need for amputation, doctors were shocked.

"This is the worst shark bite that I've managed myself," said Dr. Matthew Ramseyer of St. Mary's Medical Center.

A paramedic, Gordon Wilson, who is a member of the exclusive shark bite club himself, echoed the doctor’s stance on the injuries sustained.

"I have a vested interest in this subject because I've been through it," Wilson said. "That's one of the worst ones I've seen, definitely."

Florida is infamous for sharks – according to the International Shark Attack File, Florida is the world’s leader for shark attacks, racking up 259 non-fatal bites from 2012 to 2021. And just nearby, about two-and-a-half hours by car, is the notorious New Smyrna Beach.

As for Reinhardt:

"I'm the luckiest guy," Reinhardt said. "I feel really lucky, super lucky."

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