Two young friends’ dream getaway to the Bahamas turned into a horror story. A shark attacked them while they swam in Bimini Bay. Now, they are recovering in the U.S. and sharing their terrifying experience.
A fun swim ends in chaos
Rileigh Decker, 20, and Summer Layman, 24, jumped off a friend’s boat on Friday. They were swimming back when disaster struck.
“We were heading to the ladder when I felt something nudge my leg,” Decker told Good Morning America from her hospital bed. Moments later, she felt a tug. “I knew right then and there I was bit.“
A desperate fight for survival
Decker couldn’t move her leg. She had no strength to climb back on the boat. Her friend pulled her up while Layman, who has medical knowledge, acted fast. She helped another friend wrap a towel around Decker’s leg. A rope above her knee served as a tourniquet.
“It was terrifying,” Decker said. “For a moment, I thought I was going to die.“
A second victim
Layman was also bitten, but she didn’t realize it at first. “We were both panicking,” she recalled. “Then someone screamed my foot was shredded, and there was blood everywhere.”
A ferocious bull shark attack
The friends believe a bull shark attacked them. These predators are known for their aggressive nature.
Authorities confirmed they were first treated at a local clinic. Then, they were airlifted to New Providence for further care.
Ongoing medical battles
Decker has already undergone two surgeries. Doctors say she will need at least one more. Despite the pain, she remains grateful.
“We are lucky to be alive,” she said. “It could have ended so differently.“
Layman agreed. “There’s a long road to recovery, but we’ll get through this together.“
Both women praised their friends for their quick actions. “If they weren’t there, we wouldn’t be here,” Decker said. “I’m beyond grateful.“
Shark attacks: Rare but real
Despite the horror, shark attacks remain rare. In 2024, only 47 unprovoked bites were recorded worldwide, according to the Florida Museum of Natural History.
The Bahamas had one fatal attack in 2023. A Massachusetts woman died while paddleboarding near a Sandals resort. The Royal Bahamas Police confirmed the tragic incident.
