>>> WE ARE BACK AT 8:12 TO CONTINUE OUR SHARK WEEK ON
"TODAY" SERIES, IN PARTNERSHIP
WITH DISCOVERY CHANNEL’S POPULAR
ANNUAL EVENT.
ANNUAL EVENT. >> IN 2018, THE U.S. HAD THE
LARGEST NUMBER OF UNPROVOKED
SHARK ATTACKS IN THE WORLD.
STILL, EXPERTS SAY THE CHANCES
OF BECOMING A VICTIM IS JUST 1
IN NEARLY 12 MILLION.
THIS MORNING, WE’RE JOINED BY
PEOPLE WHO KNOW WHAT IT IS LIKE
TO BE THAT ONE IN THE STATISTIC.
WE’LL TALK TO THEM IN A MOMENT.
FIRST, A LITTLE MORE ON THEIR
STORIES.
STORIES. >> WE HAVE A SHARK ATTACK.
>> CANE HAYES WAS LOBSTER DIVING
OFF THE COAST OF SOUTHERN
CALIFORNIA WHEN HE FELT
SOMETHING TACKLE HIM.
>> RIPPED EVERYTHING ON THE TOP,
AND IT ALSO GOT HIS CHEEK.
>> Reporter: THE TEENAGER LOST
HALF HIS BLOOD AND RECEIVED
1,000 STITCHES.
1,000 STITCHES. >> I THINK HE’S A MIRACLE.
>> Reporter: TIFFANY JOHNSON WAS
ON A SNORKELING EXCURSION WITH
HER HUSBAND IN THE BAHAMAS.
>> IT FELT LIKE I HAD BUMPED
INTO SOMETHING.
INTO SOMETHING. WHEN I TURNED, I WAS
FACE-TO-FACE WITH A SHARK.
>> Reporter: THE MOTHER OF THREE
LOST HER RIGHT ARM DURING THE
ATTACK.
ATTACK. >> I REMEMBER THINKING, THIS IS
NOT THE END FOR ME.
>> HI, WE’RE ON THE BEACH.
WE HAVE A SHARK BITE HERE.
>> Reporter: AUSTIN REID WAS
SURFING IN NORTH CAROLINA LAST
MONTH WHEN HE WAS PULLED OFF HIS
BOARD.
BOARD. >> I SAW THE SHARK IN A FRENZY.
WITH ALL THE BLOOD IN THE WATER.
>> Reporter: JONATHAN HERNANDEZ
WAS SPEARFISHING IN THE BAHAMAS
WHEN HE WAS HIT FROM BEHIND.
>> I LOOKED IN THE WATER, AND I
COULD SEE MY CALF WAS HANGING
AND GUSHING BLOOD INTO THE
WATER.
WATER. >> Reporter: THE EXPERIENCED
DIVER SAID IT ALL HAPPENED FAST.
>> IT WAS A BLUR OF WHITEWATER,
FINS, AND THRASHING.
>> Reporter: LOLA POLLINA, WAS
IN WAIST-DEEP WATER, THEN 12
YEARS OLD.
YEARS OLD. >> I SAW SOMETHING NEXT TO ME.
I RAN OUT TO MY MOM, AND MY LEG
WAS BLOODY.
WAS BLOODY. >> Reporter: THIS WAS THE
STATE’S FIRST SHARK ATTACK IN 70
YEARS.
YEARS. NOW, THEY’VE ALL COME TOGETHER
TO SHARE THEIR STORIES OF
SURVIVAL.
SURVIVAL. >> KEEN, TIFFANY, AUSTIN,
JONATHAN, AND LOLA ARE WITH US
NOW.
NOW. HI, EVERYBODY.
HI, EVERYBODY. NICE TO HAVE YOU HERE.
WHAT HAS IT BEEN LIKE BEING
TOGETHER THIS MORNING?
IT IS SO UNUSUAL, TO HAVE AN
EXPERIENCE LIKE THIS WITH A
SHARK, AND NOW YOU’VE GOTTEN TO
MEET EACH OTHER.
HOW DOES IT FEEL TO MEET OTHERS?
>> GREAT.
>> GREAT. >> FEELS REALLY GOOD.
>> DOES IT FEEL LIKE THERE’S A
LITTLE BOND?
LITTLE BOND? >> YEAH.
>> YEAH. >> DEFINITELY.
>> DEFINITELY. >> NOBODY REALLY GETS BIT BY A
SHARK, SO IT IS GREAT TO HAVE
PEOPLE WHO KNOW WHAT IT IS LIKE.
>> FOR SOME OF YOU, I MEAN, THIS
JUST HAPPENED THIS SUMMER.
JONATHAN, I MEAN, RIGHT, JUST
ABOUT A MONTH AROR TWO AGO.
>> SIX WEEKS.
>> HOW ARE YOU DOING IN.
>> GETTING THERE.
>> YOUR SCAR IS STILL HEALING.
>> IT’S A SLOW PROCESS, BUT IT
GETS BETTER EACH DAY.
>> YOU, AS WELL, AUSTIN.
>> YEAH.
>> YEAH. >> THIS IS JUST WITHIN THE LAST
MONTH OR SO AGO.
>> IT WAS A MONTH.
>> HOW ARE YOU DOING?
>> DOING GOOD.
IT’S HEALING PRETTY GOOD.
I CAN WALK NOW.
I WAS ABLE TO GET BACK IN THE
WATER.
WATER. JUST THIS WEEK, I THINK,
TUESDAY.
TUESDAY. >> THAT’S WHAT WE HEARD, YOU
WERE ALREADY BACK IN THE WATER.
>> YEAH.
>> YEAH. >> WHERE DID YOU GO BACK IN THE
WATER?
WATER? >> I WENT BACK TO THE SPOT I GOT
BIT.
BIT. >> THE SAME SPOT?
>> YEAH.
>> YEAH. >> WHY DID YOU DO THAT?
>> I THOUGHT IT WAS THE BEST WAY
TO, I GUESS, GET CLOSURE.
ORIGINALLY, I WAS GOING TO GO TO
A DIFFERENT BEACH TO SURF, BUT I
THOUGHT THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN
CHEATING MYSELF KIND OF.
I THOUGHT I JUST WANTED TO GO
HEAD ON, STRAIGHT BACK TO THE
SPOT.
SPOT. I CAN TAKE ON MY FEAR OF GETTING
BACK IN THE WATER.
>> SOME OF YOU HAVEN’T GOT BACK
IN THE WATER BECAUSE YOU’RE
STILL HEALING, AND SOME, I
IMAGINE, TIFFANY, IT MIGHT BE
DIFFICULT TO DO THAT.
>> MM-HMM.
>> MM-HMM. YEAH, I HAVE GONE BACK IN THE
WATER ONLY BECAUSE I’M TRYING TO
USE WISDOM.
USE WISDOM. I HAVEN’T HAD ANY ISSUES WITH
BTSP
BTSP TRKST
TRKST PTSD OR DEPRESSION, AND I DON’T
WANT TO INTRODUCE ANY.
I’M USING TO USE GOD’S WISDOM.
YOU HAVE YOUNG ONES, SO IT IS
NOT JUST ME.
>> YOU LOST YOUR RIGHT ARM.
I READ ABOUT YOUR STORY.
YOU HAVE SUCH AN INCREDIBLE
PERSPECTIVE.
PERSPECTIVE. >> THANK YOU.
>> OF GRACE.
WHAT HAS IT BEEN LIKE TO GO
THROUGH THIS, TO LOSE THE
FUNCTION OF YOUR ARM, AND HAVE
THESE LITTLE KIDS YOU’RE TRYING
TO RAISE, TOO?
>> I MEAN, IT’S NOT BEEN EASY.
IT IS A NEW NORMAL I’M
ESTABLISHING.
ESTABLISHING. SO THANKFUL THAT GOD HAS GIVEN
ME THE PEACE AND HOPE AND
STRENGTH IN THIS.
I WOULDN’T BE ABLE TO DO IT
WITHOUT HIM.
WITHOUT HIM. SO JUST BEING ABLE TO FIGURE OUT
WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE, YOU KNOW,
AND BEING A MOM OF THREE, THEY
DON’T LET ME REST.
>> YEAH.
>> YEAH. >> WHICH IS GOOD.
I MEAN, I HAVE TO KEEP MOVING.
>> LOLA, YOU WERE, LAST SUMMER,
DOING WHAT A LOT OF US DO.
YOU WERE STANDING OUT IN THE
SURF OFF FIRE ISLAND HERE IN NEW
YORK.
YORK. >> YEAH.
>> YEAH. >> WHAT DO YOU REMEMBER ABOUT
THAT MOMENT?
THAT MOMENT? >> I REMEMBER AT FIRST I DIDN’T
FEEL ANYTHING, UNTIL I ACTUALLY
SAW IT.
SAW IT. IT WAS JUST LIKE, WHOA.
I DIDN’T KNOW WHAT IT WAS UNTIL
I GOT OUT.
I SAW, LIKE, EVERYTHING THAT HAD
HAPPENED.
HAPPENED. IT’S LIKE, YOU DON’T EXPECT THAT
UNTIL YOU ACTUALLY SEE IT AND IT
ACTUALLY HAPPENS.
ACTUALLY HAPPENS. >> YOU DIDN’T SEE A SHARK
COMING.
COMING. YOU DIDN’T SEE A FIN, ANY OF
THOSE THINGS.
THOSE THINGS. >> NO.
>> NO. I ONLY SAW IT AFTER IT HAPPENED.
>> WHAT ABOUT YOU, JONATHAN, DID
YOU HAVE A SIMILAR, OUT OF
NOWHERE EXPERIENCE?
NOWHERE EXPERIENCE? >> SAME SITUATION.
NEVER SAW IT COMING.
GOT HIT FROM BEHIND.
JUST FELT THE IMMENSE IMPACT.
NO PAIN.
NO PAIN. >> YOU’RE AN EXPERIENCED BOATER.
>> NO PAIN.
>> A LOT OF YOU SAID THAT.
>> YOU FELT THE IMPACT.
>> IS THAT BECAUSE YOU’RE IN
SHOCK?
SHOCK? WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN TOLD ABOUT
THAT?
THAT? >> NO IDEA.
>> ADRENALINE IS PART OF IT.
>> YEAH.
>> YEAH. YOU DON’T FEEL IT.
IT’S SO QUICK.
>> YEAH.
>> YEAH. >> AFTER IT HAPPENS, IT’S LIKE,
THAT’S WHEN IT STARTS HAPPENING.
THAT’S WHEN YOU START FEELING
IT.
IT. >> KEEN, WHAT DID YOU THINK WHEN
YOU WERE BITTEN.
WHAT WAS YOUR INSTINCT, WHAT HAD
HAPPENED TO YOU?
>> I WAS COMING UP FROM A DIVE.
I FELT SHAKING, GETTING HIT.
I WAS LIKE, IT’S MY FRIEND
TRYING TO SCARE ME.
THAT WAS MY FIRST TIME, SO HE
KNEW I WAS NERVOUS.
I LOOK AT MY ARM, AND IT’S ALL
BLOODY AND STUFF.
I WAS LIKE, THAT’S CRAZY.
DEFINITELY NOT NOAH.
I JUST SWAM TO A KAYAK.
AFTER I GOT BIT, I WAS
DEFINITELY, YOU KNOW, IN
SURVIVAL MODE, JUST GET TO THE
KAYAK AND SURVIVE.
>> YOU HAD 1,000 STITCHES.
>> YEAH, I DID.
>> I HEARD YOU LOST HALF YOUR
BLOOD.
BLOOD. >> YEAH.
>> YEAH. A LITTLE MORE THAN THAT.
NORMALLY, YOUR HEMOGLOBIN, YOUR
BLOOD LEVEL, YOU’RE AT 12, AND
YOU DIE AT 3.
WHEN I GOT TO THE HOSPITAL, I
WAS AT 4.
WAS AT 4. >> WOW.
>> WOW. >> VERY CLOSE TO DEATH.
>> I MEAN, IT IS ONE THING TO
RECOVER PHYSICALLY, WHICH ALL OF
YOU APPEAR TO BE DOING
BEAUTIFULLY, BUT EMOTIONALLY, IT
IS DIFFERENT.
IS DIFFERENT. THIS IS A SHOT.
TIFF
TIFF TIFFANY, YOU TALKED ABOUT NOT
FEELING BTS DP TRKSTSD, BUT YOU
ABOUT FEAR.
ABOUT FEAR. >> I’M LIKE, I NEED TO GET OUT
NOW.
NOW. I DON’T FEEL RIGHT.
THERE’S OTHER TIMES WHERE I FEEL
PERFECTLY FINE.
PERFECTLY FINE. I’M LIKE, ALL RIGHT, WE’RE GOOD.
ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE FRIENDS
AROUND YOU, IT MAKES IT SO MUCH
EASIER.
EASIER. THEY CAN CALM YOU DOWN.
IT’S JUST GREAT.
>> AS WE SAID, JONATHAN, IN THE
PIECE SETTING UP OUR INTERVIEW
HERE, STATISTICALLY, THE ODDS
ARE YOU WON’T BE BITTEN BY A
SHARK IF YOU ARE AN AVERAGE
PERSON.
PERSON. YOU WERE ONE OF THE STATISTICS.
WHAT WOULD YOU TELL PEOPLE?
YOU’RE AN EXPERIENCED FISHERMAN.
YOU ALL LOVE THE WATER, I TRUST.
WHAT WOULD YOU TELL PEOPLE IN
THE OCEAN THIS SUMMER?
>> BE PREPARED.
HAVE THE RIGHT MEDICAL STUFF.
WHETHER ON THE BOAT OR THE
BEACH.
BEACH. TOURNIQUET IS THE SINGLE BIGGEST
THING THAT SAVED ME LIFE.
$20, $30, FITS IN YOUR POCKET.
SIMPLE PIECE OF EQUIPMENT THAT
ESSENTIALLY BLEEDING OUT IS THE
BIGGEST FEAR.
BIGGEST FEAR. >> RIGHT.
>> RIGHT. >> HOW DO YOU --
>> BE PREPARED.
>> HOW DO YOU ALL FEEL ABOUT
SHARKS?
SHARKS? >> I’M FINE WITH THEM.
>> YEAH.
>> YEAH. >> THEY GET A BAD REP.
>> DEFINITELY.
>> DEFINITELY. >> WE ARE THIS THEIR TERRITORY.
>> YEAH.
>> YEAH. >> THEY’RE ANIMALS.
THEY’RE UNPREDICTABLE.
THEY’RE UNPREDICTABLE. >> YEAH.
>> YEAH. >> WELL, YOU ALL ARE VERY BRAVE.
WE’RE GRATEFUL FOR YOU COMING
AND SHARING YOUR STORIES.
I THINK PEOPLE LEARN A LOT ABOUT
WHAT HAPPENED BUT ALSO ABOUT
RECOVERY AND HEALING.