SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, Texas (KTVT) – A Texas woman lost most of her left calf and nearly died after being bitten by a shark on July 4. As she recovers from the incident at home, she and her husband are sharing their story in hopes of helping others.
Tabatha Sullivent was visiting South Padre Island with her husband Cary Sullivent on July 4. While in shallow water, she was bitten by a shark that ripped off most of her left calf.
“The bull shark that attacked me – and which, as far as they know, was swimming up and down the beach – was probably about the size of this sofa,” said Tabatha Sullivent.
After his wife was bitten, Cary Sullivent jumped into the water and was also lightly bitten by the shark, but this did not bother him.
“I saw how bad it was and how white she was, and I thought I had just lost my wife,” he said.
The incident nearly cost Tabatha Sullivent her life, as she lost nearly 75% of her blood. Luckily, a group of strangers on the beach had tourniquets on hand to stop the bleeding until emergency responders arrived.
“I wouldn’t be here today if all the people hadn’t been on the beach and going into the water,” said Tabatha Sullivent.
After being taken to the emergency room, Tabatha Sullivent underwent six surgeries. Doctors used skin grafts from her thigh and fish skin to heal her leg.
“Because I lost my calf, I have no feeling in my ankle. Also, the bottom of my foot is completely numb,” she said.
The doctors say it is a miracle that she can walk again after the incident.
Tabatha Sullivent has posted her road to recovery on social media, sharing her story of strength with people across the country. She still keeps in touch with some of the beachgoers who rescued her, calling them not only friends but her guardian angels.
“I believe it was the help of the people on the beach and the help of the higher power and God – I'm still here today – and we're still fighting and telling our story. We're telling our story for a reason,” she said. “It might just be an inspiration to someone who's going through a really tough time.”
For now, Tabatha Sullivent is happy to be home and is taking things day by day and step by step. Her future is uncertain, but she dreams of one day being able to walk, run and even swim in the ocean again.
“We have a lot more to tell. I don't know what it is yet, but I think there is more to our story. Just one day at a time, and it will come to us as it comes to us,” she said.
There were no shark warnings in place the day the couple visited the beach. After her recovery, Tabatha Sullivent plans to work with the city of South Padre to establish better warning systems and prevent future shark bites.
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