One moment, Addison Bethea was scalloping in the shallow waters off Florida’s Gulf Coast. The next, she was in a life-or-death struggle against a nine-foot shark that refused to let go.
The 17-year-old had been wading near Grassy Island, just off Keaton Beach, when something clamped onto her right leg and pulled her under. At first, she thought it was her brother playing a prank — until she saw the shark’s tail thrashing behind her.
A Terrifying Attack, and a Remarkable Response
Addison didn’t panic. Instead, she tried to remember what she’d learned from watching Animal Planet: punch the shark in the nose. But the shark’s grip made that impossible. So she did what she could — she gouged at its eye and fought with her hands, refusing to give up.
Then her brother, 22-year-old Rhett Willingham, a firefighter and EMT, saw the blood. He dove into the water and launched himself into the fight.
“So I grabbed her, swam backwards, kicked him, and called for assistance.” he later said. Even after Addison was free, the shark kept circling. Rhett didn’t stop until he got her into his boat and used a makeshift rope to create a tourniquet around her upper thigh.
A nearby boater rushed over and helped transfer Addison. Rhett called for an ambulance and raced her back to shore.
A Long Road Ahead — But She’s Alive
Addison was airlifted nearly 80 miles to Tallahassee Memorial Hospital, where she underwent emergency surgery. The damage to her right leg was extensive — the front quadricep muscle was “completely annihilated,” according to her father, Shane Bethea. Vascular surgeons had to repurpose a vein from her left leg to restore circulation to the right.
While doctors ultimately had to amputate her leg above the knee, they are working to preserve enough tissue to fit a prosthetic. Her medical team hopes to avoid amputating at the hip.
Incredibly, Addison remained upbeat from the start. “She woke up and was communicating to us through typing on her phone. She was in good spirits and cracking jokes about beating up the shark,” Shane her father, shared in a Facebook update. Her first request in the ICU? A Frosty from Wendy’s.
Shark Attacks Are Rare — But Real
Shark attacks are exceedingly rare. According to the International Shark Attack File, the odds of being attacked by a shark are roughly 1 in 4 million. Most encounters happen in warm coastal waters and are typically a case of mistaken identity — a human leg mistaken for a seal or fish.
Still, Florida consistently ranks highest for unprovoked shark bites in the U.S., particularly in summer months when more people are swimming or scalloping in shallow water.
Authorities investigating Addison’s case believe the shark was a bull shark — a species known for aggression and tolerance of shallow waters. It was estimated to be around nine feet long.
In the aftermath of the attack, local officials urged swimmers to follow basic shark safety practices: never swim alone, avoid areas with fishermen or schools of fish, and stay calm in the water to avoid drawing attention through erratic movement.
Addison’s story is a stark reminder that while shark attacks are rare, they’re not impossible — and knowing how to respond can make all the difference.
A Sister’s Strength, A Brother’s Bravery
Speaking to the BBC, Addison described the moment after the attack when she began losing consciousness. “Rhett kept tapping me on my face and saying, ‘You’re going to be okay,’ and I said, ‘Okay.’”
Her father put it simply: “If Rhett hadn’t been there, we would be at the funeral home instead of the hospital.”
Addison is now 18 and facing a long recovery, but her resolve is unshaken. She’s already undergone multiple surgeries and continues to inspire those around her with her humor, grit, and courage. And she’s not afraid to talk about the attack — not to relive the trauma, but to remind others how quickly life can change, and how vital it is to stay calm, act fast, and never lose hope.
Featured image: Facebook