Teen surfer bitten by shark in South Africa

Jason stands by his board. Photo: Mark Andrews
Jason Krafft stands by his board. Photo: Mark Andrews

Jason Krafft was surfing off East London, South Africa when he was bitten by on the left foot by a shark.

The fifteen year old and his brother Tristan were around hitting the waves around 8 a.m. off Chintsa East Beach Jan. 3, when a shark grabbed his foot.

“We were about 20m (65ft) off shore when I felt a grip on my left foot. I immediately used my left hand to push hard underneath the water and then jumped onto my board and paddled to safety,” Kraft told the Dispatch Live

The teen had several lacerations under his foot and above his Achilles heel.

Jason Krafft
Photo: Dispatch Live

“I also realized my fingers were bleeding from punching the water with my hand,” he said.

Luckily his veterinary father was able to provide first aid before the teen was taken to St. Dominic Hospital where he received 11 stitches.

Krafft is not going to let the shark bite keep him out of the water. After recovering for a bit, he plans on being healed enough to surf during the next family holiday.

The shark is believed to be a 4 foot sand tiger aka ragged-tooth shark.

This is the second bite attack of 2015.

The location has been updated on the 2015 shark bites/attack map.

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