There’s a lesson here for water-sport lovers.
Erika Lane was wing foiling in the waters near the Anna Maria City and Rod & Reel piers Dec. 22 and, in addition to catching a good wind, she encountered a shark.
“I got bitten by a shark while wing foiling,” Lane posted Dec. 30, 2021, on her Instagram account, @supluv.
She’s inviting people to share her story because “it’s important to be aware that you may have to rescue yourself one day.”
So here is her story, as told on Instagram:
Dec. 22, 2021, about 1:45 p.m., an awesome windy wing day.
Conditions turned the water cloudy.
Foiling toward shore, I felt the turbulence of big creatures swimming under my foil and then something took me out; my mast was bitten and pulled out from under me and I crashed!
As soon as I hit the water I was bitten on my thigh and second later I saw jaws, a shark’s face and teeth flying toward my face and then right past me!
Out of instinct I jumped on top of my floating wing to escape the chaos and get out of the water.
I believe that big beautiful … red wing saved me and my 55L board was not enough to keep me afloat.
I knew I had to get back in the water to get back to shore.
I jumped on my board so fast and pumped up, fearing falling in.
As I was flying, I looked down and saw the outline of a shark’s jaw in puncture marks and blood running down the outside of my leg through my wetsuit.
I realized I was actually bitten by a shark.
I foiled straight to shore and walked a half mile up the beach to my truck.
Lane continued, “I’m OK. My wounds are healing, no stitches needed and I’m not in pain. I have been back in the water foiling every day since the incident.
This attack was not intentional and is very rare.
To see photos and hear audio, check @supluv on Instagram.
And be careful out there.