A tourist is being credited with rescuing a woman from a shark in Brevard County Sunday afternoon.
Officials said a woman suffered a 6-inch laceration to her ankle after being attacked by a shark while surfing in South Cocoa Beach.
“I looked over at her and she said somebody help me,” said Holly Peterson, who helped rescue victim.
Peterson is reliving the terrifying moment when she jumped into the sea to rescue a 28-year-old woman as she was being attacked by a shark.
“I saw the fin come up and slap her in the face and she said it got me, so I grabbed her hand and dragged her back onto the shore,” said Peterson.
Brevard Ocean Rescue officials said the victim was wading in the surf near South 11th Street when the shark bit her ankle. Peterson was walking close to shore when she heard the woman screaming for help.
“I see my fiancé and Holly dragging her in from the water and I just saw blood and got on the phone and went over there. It got her back calf pretty good,” said Shaun Boen, witness.
After the victim made it back to safety on dry land, she was rushed to the Holmes Regional Medical Center in Melbourne. Hospital staff were unable to provide News 13 with an update on the woman’s condition Sunday night.
Brevard officials have responded to at least five shark bites in 2015.
Brevard officials also rescued a child from a rip current at Lori Wilson Park in Brevard County. There were 9 rescues at Lori Wilson Park Sunday and 11 rescues countywide.