Jim Abernethy hospitalized after shark bite

It's been reported that Jim Abernethy was bitten by a Lemon shark Caribbean reef shark (corrected 1/27/11) in the arm on Wed, 26th Jan and medevac to hospital by the Coast Guard. No details have been made available other than a local report:

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/palm-beac...0,1418873.story

I'm so glad Jim is doing ok. As there have been no details given other than the incident, let's try not to speculate and start wild rumors since shark news isn't always portrayed well by news media and we don't want Wetpixel to be quoted in a detrimental way for sharks. So please discuss freely but stick to the facts. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

Glad to hear Jim is OK.

Wishing you a speedy recovery, Jimmy.

Alex

I second the speedy recovery.

Here is a link to a post on Jim's Facebook page this evening. Hoping here for a speedy recovery. We need Jim out there.

Steve

Glad he's okay...

At least he will be sensationalising the event for the press like some ...

Dive safe

DeanB

Knowing Jim; it will not be long before he's back on the Shearwater. I'm looking forward to my next trip!

Dean, you might want to chuck a 'not' into that post mate.

Jimmy recover quickly and continue your efforts and cause for the sharks!

Cheers

Todd

You GO Jim! We are all here for you and in usual Abernethy style you sure got us all excited here last night and delighted to hear the real facts as they have unveloped and your OK. Now on with your great mission! Go get em Jm from all your Plas and supporters . Warmly Gary

Has anyone heard any more news on this. I will be out at Tiger Beach in a few weeks time on the Dolphin Dream and hope that this incident does not cause any problems with diving with shark in the Bahamas.

Stew

Dean, you might want to chuck a 'not' into that post mate.

Oh yeah... Whoops!!! Sorry about that. Cheers Simon

Dive safe

DeanB

I just spoke to Christina in Jim's office - he's doing fine and chomping at the bit to be released from the hospital and get back in the water. No other details.

Phil

Best to Jimmy from Siobhan and Scott...moving back to FL from NC...hope to see you soon on the ShearWater

The Palm beach paper released a short blurb on their website with Video;

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/shark-bi...dy-1217209.html

Great to see Jim is OK,

Steve

Yes, great to see the arm is OK, and all the fingers are working. I was getting a little worried when I read about the need for airlifting, hospital admission etc. I think behavior of Caribbean Reef Sharks is much more like a pack animal around bait than other sharks. In 2006 at Shark Shootout in the Bahamas, about 5 seconds after this picture was taken I was bitten by this shark in almost the identical area (except left arm) Jim is showing, while holding my camera up to my eye in the middle of bait on the surface. Fortunately all I had was 5 or 6 puncture wounds, which bled like stink, but none of which needed stitches. As a hand surgeon though I realized how lucky I was, as one of the puncture wounds could not have been more than a half inch away from my ulnar nerve as it crosses the elbow. Could have really cut short my surgery career (I'm left handed as well).

Great to see no permanent damage Jim, just a little nip.... so looking forward to my December Shearwater trip. I know this may be sacrilege to Jim, but I think arm chain mail when working close to bait is not a bad idea.

Here is the press conference video:

In 2006 at Shark Shootout in the Bahamas, about 5 seconds after this picture was taken I was bitten by this shark in almost the identical area (except left arm) Jim is showing, while holding my camera up to my eye in the middle of bait on the surface. Fortunately all I had was 5 or 6 puncture wounds, which bled like stink, but none of which needed stitches.

Was this on a JASA trip as well Drew

Stew

No actually Stew that was at Stuart Cove's, a Stephen Frink event / course, no one to blame except me.

Sure glad to see that Jim's injuries weren't major. And isn't it just like to him to turn it into a press opportunity to get the word out - turning lemons into lemonaide! Good on ya, Jimmy!

Dean, you might want to chuck a 'not' into that post mate.

Or maybe 'Not' ... Glad to see some positive shark promotion ... Well done Jim

Dive safe

DeanB