After Shark Attack on Bahamas Vacation, the Victims, 1 with 'Shredded' Foot, Speak Out

Mar. 15, 2025

Rileigh Decker, 20, and Summer Layman, 24, were swimming in Bimini Bay after jumping off of a friend’s yacht on Friday, Feb. 7, when the attack occurred, according toNBC News.

Royal Bahamas Police Force said in astatementthat both women were initially treated at a local clinic “before being airlifted to New Providence for further medical attention.”

Decker and Layman are now back in the United States, where Decker remains hospitalized due to her injuries.

“We’re just very grateful to still be here with all of our limbs,” Decker toldTodayfrom her hospital bed in Orlando.

Decker said she initially became concerned on Friday after she “felt something nudge my leg” while swimming.

Friends raced to the rescue, Decker said onGood Morning America. One friend was able to pull Decker out of the water and used rope and a towel to create a tourniquet for her leg wound.

“I just put my head in my hands and started praying that God wouldn’t take my life and I would live,” Decker tearfully toldToday. “Yeah, it was very scary.”

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“We both were panicking in that moment,” Layman explained,GMAreported. “I didn’t realize that I got bit until they started screaming that my foot was shredded.”

Once they were stable, Decker and Layman were flown back to the U.S., according to the reports. Decker is currently awaiting a third surgery.

“All we can do now is be grateful that we’re still here because it could have ended very differently,” Decker toldGMA.

But neither woman anticipates re-entering the ocean any time soon. “I will not be going into the water for a long time,” Layman said onToday.

Added Decker, “I will never. I won’t even put my toes in ever again.”

source: people.com