Colorado Teen Who Lost Leg in Belize Shark Attack Recalls Traumatic Experience

Fifteen-year-old Annabelle Carlson from Colorado describes herself as “lucky” to be alive after surviving a traumatic shark attack during a diving trip in Belize when she spoke to NBC News. The attack, which occurred on August 6 at Lighthouse Reef Atoll, left her with severe injuries, including the loss of her right leg and damage to her hands. Despite enduring a gruelling four-month recovery process involving seven surgeries, a bacterial infection, and learning to adapt to a prosthetic leg, Annabelle has emerged stronger and more determined than ever.

The incident unfolded as Annabelle, an experienced diver with more than 20 dives under her belt, surfaced from a family dive. She and her siblings decided to jump into the water for a swim, with Annabelle going first. Almost immediately, a shark attacked her hands. “It’s biting my hands. And it’s kind of weird, so I kind of just start hitting it to try and hit it off me,” she said.

As she struggled to fend it off, a second shark bit her leg. The ordeal, which felt like an eternity but lasted only 30 seconds, was terrifying yet painless due to the surge of adrenaline.

Good Samaritans on the boat acted quickly, applying a tourniquet and rushing her to a coast guard outpost before she could be airlifted to a hospital in Belize City.

Doctors amputated Annabelle’s leg to save her life, and additional surgeries in Miami followed to prepare her for a prosthetic and repair nerve and tendon damage in her hands.

Despite the challenges, Annabelle remains remarkably optimistic. She now walks with her prosthetic leg and embraces life with a renewed sense of gratitude. “But I wake up every day feeling grateful, just because, I mean, I’m here, and I’m able to walk again, I’m so lucky to be able to do so,” Annabelle said. “I think this situation just really goes to show that there is light at the end of the tunnel. Because I do have my prosthetic now. I’d say I’m thriving, right?”