Fisherman attacked by shark rescued by helicopter near Bahamas

A crewmate put the fisherman in a tourniquet before the Coast Guard arrived, a move that may have saved the man’s life

A fisherman attacked by a shark in the Bahamas had to be rescued by a US Coast Guard helicopter, according to a news release from the agency.

On Monday, a 51-year-old fisherman was bitten on the arm while he was out on a boat fishing near Bimini. The gash – reportedly the work of a shark – had resulted in significant blood loss, so a crewmate fitted a tourniquet to the man's arm, according to a US Coast Guard Press release.

At that point, the Coast Guard arrived and determined that the fisherman would need a medical evacuation for treatment, and the Coast Guard's Air Station Miami dispatched a MH-65 Dolphin helicopter to hoist the man rom his boat and transport him to a nearby hospital.

“This was the best possible outcome to a truly terrifying situation,” Sean Connett, command duty officer at Coast Guard District Seven, said. “This individual was fortunate a fellow crew member was able to render aid prior to the Coast Guard’s arrival which allowed for a quick extraction from the vessel.”

The fisherman is reportedly in stable condition.