A little more than a week ago, 28-year-old Florida Tech student the college division of the National Scholastic Surfing Association's East Coast Regional Championship. Less than a week later, he was while surfing off his home break near Melbourne Beach in Florida. On Thursday, April 19, at 7:30 p.m., the surfer felt a sharp pain in his hand and then turned to see a roughly five-foot shark swimming away. He paddled back to the beach, began to drive himself to the hospital, and to call for help.
Ellingham was transported to Holmes Medical Center where he was listed in stable condition. Now, a says he needs reconstructive surgery to repair his injured fingers. The the Ocean Engineering students has been paying his own way through school and is currently uninsured. The fund request total is $20,000. (A warning for those clicking over: The post includes a picture of the mangled hand.)
H/T:
–Joe Spring