Fla. Man Bitten by Shark on Same Beach He Was Attacked 11 Years Earlier: 'It's Freaky'

On Oct. 25, 28-year-old Cole Taschman was attacked by a shark for the second time in his life

Cole Taschman Fla. Man Bitten by Shark on Same Beach He was Attacked 11 Years Earlier but Won't Quit Surfing
Cole Taschman. Photo:

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A man from Florida has been bitten by a shark for the second time in his life — and on the same beach.

As reported by TCPalm, 28-year-old Cole Taschman was surfing at Bathtub Beach with his friends and girlfriend on Friday, Oct. 25, when he was bitten on his feet by a shark.

The attack came after he was previously bitten on his arm by a shark 11 years ago on the same beach at age 16.

The then-teenager was treated with 12 stitches and a cast after he kept using his surfboard to hit the four to five-foot-long blacktip reef shark’s head, preventing the shark from biting him again.

Taschman then wrapped his injured arm with his T-shirt before paddling back to the shore.

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Bathtub beach
Bathtub Beach.

Meanwhile, the surfer’s recent shark attack saw a seven or eight-foot tiger or bull shark bite his feet.

"He came up behind me, and as he bit me, I looked behind me and saw him on me," Taschman told the outlet. "I just screamed at [friends] Hunter [Roland] and Zach [Bucolo].”

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“They were already paddling toward me as they saw the thrashing, and luckily there was a wave coming right there, so I just got on that wave and rode it in on my belly,” he added.

He was then carried to shore by his friends, while the surfboard leashes were used to stop the bleeding.

Taschman was taken to Cleveland Clinic Martin North Hospital in Stuart, before being transferred to St. Mary's Medical Center in West Palm Beach, where he underwent two surgeries and recieved 93 stitches.

Speaking about the comparison between the first shark bite and the second, Taschman told local NBC affiliate WPTV that “there's no comparison,” adding, “It's so hectic how much worse this one was.”

"I actually blacked out,” he added. “I almost passed out from shock or losing enough blood.”

Taschman continued, “So Ana [Tachman's girlfriend] is in the back slapping me, and Zach is driving like a madman trying to get me to the hospital. He’s dumping water on my head. They kept me awake, so thank God.”

Grateful for the help of his loved ones, Taschman’s advice to people is to not surf by themselves.

“It's freaky," he said of the experience. "You know, it changes you ... So definitely don't surf alone.” 

A GoFundMe Page has been created by Taschman’s girlfriend to help cover medical costs.

“He does not have health insurance and had to undergo two surgeries by Dr. Borrego at Saint Mary's Medical Center to repair 3 tendons, received 93 stitches and many staple stitches as well,” the GoFundMe description read.

As of writing, over $5,695 out of a $30,000 goal has been raised.

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