South African Beachgoers Help Save Man Who Was Attacked by Great White Shark

Published November 17, 2014

The first aid administered by beachgoers, who made a tourniquet out of a wetsuit, saved a man who was attacked by a great white shark off the coast of South Africa, The Telegraph reports.

Michael Cohen, 42, who apparently disregarded a shark flag notification, was attacked in the waters off Cape Town, and somehow managed to reach the shore despite bleeding profusely from his mangled right thigh and left ankle, the paper reported.

That was when quick-thinking bystanders sprung into action. They tied a wetsuit and two belts around his legs “very, very tightly,” a move that almost completely stopped his blood loss, said surgeon Andrew Nichol, the paper reported.

The first responders left the beach without giving their names.

Cohen was airlifted to a hospital, where he received more than 14 pints (7 liters) of blood, the paper reported.

He lost his lower right leg. Doctors were able to clean his left foot, but were concerned about blood flow in the leg, the paper reported.

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