Florida Crews Rescue Boy from Stubborn Shark
Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue
MIKE JACHLES/BROWARD SHERIFF FIRE RESCUE
Brendan Chapman, 14, of Ft. Lauderdale (left) and Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue Lt. Rob Melendez (center)
MIKE JACHLES/BROWARD SHERIFF FIRE RESCUE
NBC Today Show Correspondent Kerry Sanders (at left) interviews the Broward Sheriff's Office crew
A Broward County, Fla. teen has quite a fish story to tell after he emerged from the sea with a shark latched onto his belly.
The fish tale began at 3:50 p.m. on September 13th when someone on a fishing pier called 9-1-1 to report a victim bitten by a shark beneath the pier. Broward Sheriff's deputies and Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue crews quickly responded.
The first to arrive was Broward Sheriff's Office deputy Terry Kyle, who went out about 10 feet into the ocean to reach the victim.
Brandon Chapman, 14, was standing in three foot deep water holding a three to four foot long shark that was locked on to his abdomen.
Dep. Kyle radioed in to advise the incoming firefighters that the shark was "still attached to the victim." Upon hearing that, Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue 12's Lt. Rob Melendez told firefighter Gabe Frittitta to "grab the irons," otherwise known as the 20 pound forcible entry tool and the fireman's axe, staples in the arsenal of firefighting hand tools.
Melendez and Frittitta went into the water, and together with Dep. Kyle and several bystanders, were able to break the shark's tight grip on Chapman's mid-section. As Dep. Kyle and others tried to pry open the jaws of the fish, Lt. Melendez delivered a punch to the shark's nose, and the grip released. The shark was tossed back into the ocean and quickly swam away.
Chapman was brought onto the beach where he was treated for his injuries. He was then transported by Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue 12, stationed in Lauderdale By-The-Sea, to Broward General Medical Center in Ft. Lauderdale for treatment. Fortunately, his injuries were not life threatening and he was released from the hospital later that evening.
As for the suspect, the shark was last seen heading east, swimming in the Atlantic Ocean.
Updated: 09-14-2007 03:19:01 PM
Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue
MIKE JACHLES/BROWARD SHERIFF FIRE RESCUE
Brendan Chapman, 14, of Ft. Lauderdale (left) and Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue Lt. Rob Melendez (center)
MIKE JACHLES/BROWARD SHERIFF FIRE RESCUE
NBC Today Show Correspondent Kerry Sanders (at left) interviews the Broward Sheriff's Office crew
A Broward County, Fla. teen has quite a fish story to tell after he emerged from the sea with a shark latched onto his belly.
The fish tale began at 3:50 p.m. on September 13th when someone on a fishing pier called 9-1-1 to report a victim bitten by a shark beneath the pier. Broward Sheriff's deputies and Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue crews quickly responded.
The first to arrive was Broward Sheriff's Office deputy Terry Kyle, who went out about 10 feet into the ocean to reach the victim.
Brandon Chapman, 14, was standing in three foot deep water holding a three to four foot long shark that was locked on to his abdomen.
Dep. Kyle radioed in to advise the incoming firefighters that the shark was "still attached to the victim." Upon hearing that, Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue 12's Lt. Rob Melendez told firefighter Gabe Frittitta to "grab the irons," otherwise known as the 20 pound forcible entry tool and the fireman's axe, staples in the arsenal of firefighting hand tools.
Melendez and Frittitta went into the water, and together with Dep. Kyle and several bystanders, were able to break the shark's tight grip on Chapman's mid-section. As Dep. Kyle and others tried to pry open the jaws of the fish, Lt. Melendez delivered a punch to the shark's nose, and the grip released. The shark was tossed back into the ocean and quickly swam away.
Chapman was brought onto the beach where he was treated for his injuries. He was then transported by Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue 12, stationed in Lauderdale By-The-Sea, to Broward General Medical Center in Ft. Lauderdale for treatment. Fortunately, his injuries were not life threatening and he was released from the hospital later that evening.
As for the suspect, the shark was last seen heading east, swimming in the Atlantic Ocean.
Can we say this whole story is overkill. God the media will make anything into a "TRAUMA DRAMA"! 
