MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Following a terrifying encounter with a shark last year, Alabama teenager Lulu Gribbin is advocating for a new alert system that aims to enhance safety in coastal areas. Gribbin, now 16, was bitten by a shark on June 7, 2024, one of three victims amid a series of attacks in the Florida Panhandle. Tragically, she lost her left hand and part of her leg in the incident. On Wednesday, she urged Alabama lawmakers to consider a proposed shark attack alert system designed to protect others from similar dangers.
The proposal, introduced by Republican Rep. David Faulkner, seeks to implement an alert system akin to the Amber Alert, issuing notifications to the public when an unprovoked shark attack occurs nearby. Gribbin recounted that another attack happened roughly 90 minutes before her ordeal, just a few miles away. Had she been aware, she said, she and her friend would have stayed out of the water. “This bill will help prevent future attacks and accidents,” she stated.
Though the proposal currently addresses Alabama’s coastlines exclusively, Faulkner envisions its broader adoption by other states or potentially through federal legislation. “There had been a shark attack just down the beach, and yet she had no notice. And I felt like in this day and age, that’s something we shouldn’t let happen,” Faulkner explained.
The Alabama House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee advanced the bill on Wednesday, moving it towards deliberation in the full House of Representatives. The bill, which would be named in honor of Gribbin, was amended to restrict alerts solely to unprovoked attacks off the coast. An initial version included alerts for “imminent danger” from sharks, but there were concerns from beach communities that this broad language could spark unnecessary panic and jeopardize tourism.
Gribbin detailed the moments leading up to the attack as she and her friend were diving for sand dollars. They were returning to the shore when her friend suddenly yelled, “shark!” In an instant, she saw a looming shadow and remembered trying to stay calm amid the chaos, aware that sharks are drawn to frantic movements.
Despite her efforts, the shark attacked, targeting her hand first and then clamping onto her leg. “I remember just lifting it out of the water, and I was stunned because there was no hand there. I couldn’t feel it because of all the shock I was in,” she recalled. A passerby, described by Gribbin as a hero, helped pull her to safety. Though she lost consciousness, she vividly remembers the struggle to stay awake and breathing as medical personnel worked to save her onshore.
Her challenging recovery has been shared on social media, and during her visit to the Alabama Statehouse, many stopped her to express admiration, noting she’s inspired countless individuals through her journey.
While shark presence is common in Alabama and Florida’s waters, attacks remain rare according to experts. Last year, 47 unprovoked shark bites were reported worldwide, per the University of Florida’s International Shark Attack File.
Alabama Governor Kay Ivey called on lawmakers to back the legislation, describing it as an invaluable addition to public safety measures. “Lulu is truly an inspiration and an awesome example of courage. Let’s be Lulu strong and get this bill to my desk so I can sign it into law,” Ivey said in a statement.