Photo: Douglas Sacha / Moment / Getty Images
Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, FL - A woman was rushed to the hospital Tuesday afternoon after an alleged encounter with a barracuda near the Lauderdale-by-the-Sea pier left her with a serious arm injury.
According to Pompano Beach Fire Rescue, the woman may have been bitten by a barracuda while swimming in waist-deep water.
Emergency responders treated her at the scene before transporting her to Broward Health North. Her injuries, though alarming, were not life-threatening.
Witnesses described a chaotic moment as the woman emerged from the water visibly distressed.
“She was screaming and waving her arms, holding her left arm and bleeding heavily,” a bystander told NBC Miami.
“Someone ran to help her out of the water while another called for a towel to stop the bleeding.”
Another witness, who had been swimming nearby, said he had just exited the water minutes before the incident.
“I had a strange feeling and came in. Then I heard her yelling,” the witness said.
The witness was among the first to assist the woman, telling NBC Miami, “She had a deep wound, like a piece of her forearm was missing.”
Other beach visitors jumped in to help, using towels as makeshift tourniquets.
“She was losing blood, so I applied pressure right away,” said a witness named Besnik.
Authorities confirmed the woman remained conscious throughout the incident and is expected to recover.
Her identity has not been made public.
Wildlife officials have not yet confirmed the specific animal involved, though barracudas are known to frequent the area.