Family says 10-year-old bitten by shark on Hilton Head Island
A woman says her 10-year-old son was bitten by a shark while splashing in waist-deep water along the SC coast.
WTOC sat down with Jei Turrell's family Tuesday. It happened over the weekend in Hilton Head, South Carolina.
The Island Packet newspaper reported that on Sunday afternoon, Jei Turrell was bitten on the forearm at nearby Hilton Head beach.
Jei's mother, Tonya Turrell, says when her son first came out of the water screaming "shark" she thought he was joking - until she saw his arm. "It bit, and then bolted off. It was just dripping flesh and blood".
There were eight confirmed shark bites on Hilton Head a year ago.
Hilton Head's "shark whisperer" Chip Michalove said May is the most common month for black-tips in that area. Padgett said she did not know the fisherman and was not involved in catching the shark.