What was intended to be a highlight of a 40th-wedding anniversary cruise turned into a harrowing experience for John Schweizer, 69, of Niantic, Connecticut, when he was mauled by a shark while snorkeling in the Bahamas.
The incident occurred on July 24 near Bimini, where Schweizer was snorkeling with Caribbean reef sharks alongside his wife, Marcy, and their adult sons. He described the attack as sudden, with a shark grabbing his leg and briefly pulling him underwater.
"All of a sudden, one came up and just grabbed me right in the leg," Schweizer told WTNH News8. "It was like a huge dog bite, very quick."
His son witnessed the attack and reported that the skin on his father's shin was peeled back to the bone. Schweizer managed to scramble back to the tour boat, and the crew quickly evacuated everyone from the water and rushed back to the cruise ship. "We used many, many towels and tourniquets to hold and keep the blood at bay," he told NBC Connecticut. "I was bleeding all over the place."
A doctor aboard the ship provided immediate medical attention, spending three hours stitching Schweizer's wounds closed with 26 stitches. He also sustained injuries to one hand. Following the incident, he was transported to a Miami hospital, where he was discharged after a single day and is now walking as he recovers.
Despite the terrifying ordeal, Schweizer expressed gratitude that the shark targeted him rather than his wife or sons. "I’m happy it was me. I get to have a good story to tell," he said.
Upon returning home to Niantic, Schweizer was met with a playful surprise from his neighbors, who greeted him wearing full shark costumes. He described them as "wonderful people."
As for future snorkeling excursions, Schweizer stated emphatically, "No. Not at all."
Schweizer's experience comes amid a reported increase in shark sightings and attacks in various parts of the world. As of late July 2026, there have been 32 verified shark bites globally. This number is half of the 65 confirmed unprovoked bites in 2025. The New York area, in particular, has seen a rise in shark encounters, leading to beach closures from Long Island to The Rockaways. Experts suggest improved surveillance methods, such as an increased number of drones and operators, may contribute to the higher reported numbers. Meanwhile, a large great white shark, estimated to be the biggest recorded in the Atlantic, is predicted to be heading towards the Eastern Seaboard.