A 17-year-old boy has been hospitalized after a shark attack off the coast of Texas near Galveston, in a serious boating incident that required emergency rescue support from authorities.
The incident happened on Monday afternoon at around 3:15 p.m. local time when the Galveston County Sheriff’s Office received an emergency report about a teenager who had been bitten by a shark while out at sea.
The U.S. Coast Guard United States Coast Guard was contacted to assist with the medical emergency after the situation escalated on board a boat carrying the teen, his father, and another person.
Reports from local media say the group had been offshore for several hours when the incident occurred. They were returning toward the Galveston Yacht Basin when their boat became disabled near the jetties, adding further difficulty to the emergency response.
According to early accounts, the teenager was bitten while the group was attempting to bring a shark closer to the boat. Authorities have not yet confirmed the species of shark involved in the attack.
The boy’s father immediately applied a tourniquet to control severe bleeding after the bite. Emergency responders later applied an additional tourniquet when they reached the scene in an effort to stabilise the teen’s condition.
Despite the serious injury, reports indicate that the 17-year-old remained conscious and alert throughout the rescue operation. His condition was considered stable enough for transport, although officials have not released detailed updates on his recovery.
Rescue teams worked quickly to bring the injured teenager back to shore before transferring him to hospital. He was taken to the University of Texas Medical Branch University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston for emergency treatment.
Authorities have not confirmed what caused the boat to become disabled during the trip, which may have delayed the response time and complicated the rescue effort.
The Galveston County Sheriff’s Office and Coast Guard are continuing to review the circumstances surrounding both the shark encounter and the mechanical failure of the vessel.
Shark attacks in the Gulf of Mexico are rare but can occur, particularly when humans come into close contact with marine life during fishing or recreational activities.
Officials have not released further information about the teenager’s injuries or long-term prognosis, but say investigations are ongoing.
Local emergency responders have reminded boaters to follow safety precautions when handling wildlife and to ensure vessels are properly maintained before offshore trips.
The incident has shocked the local community, as authorities continue to gather details about what led to the attack and the sequence of events at sea.
Further updates are expected as medical staff assess the teen’s recovery and investigators complete their review of the emergency response.
