Shark bite injures 69-year-old man during anniversary snorkeling trip in Bahamas

John Schweizer, a 69-year-old retired financial adviser from Niantic, Connecticut, was celebrating his 40th wedding anniversary with his wife Marcy and their adult sons when a shark attacked him while snorkeling near Bimini on July 24. The shark seized his left shin, briefly dragging him underwater before releasing him, and also injured one of his hands. Tour operators hurried the group back to their cruise ship, shortening the excursion from the intended 45 minutes to about ten.

Onboard medical staff used tourniquets, towels and later performed a three-hour procedure that closed the leg wound with 26 stitches. Schweizer was transferred to a Miami hospital, discharged after one day and is now walking as he recuperates. His neighbors in Niantic greeted his return in shark costumes, and he says he will not swim with sharks again.