Heroic Uncle Wrestles Shark to Shore

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-- (news@to.me), July 10, 2001

Answers

Jesse Arbogast's arm was severed and a gash was torn in his thigh as he was swimming in shallow surf in the ocean near Pensacola, Fla., on Friday. His uncle pulled the 7-foot-long, 250 pound shark from the water to recover the arm from the creature's jaws. Police released a tape of the 911 call placed by the uncle as others tried to revive the boy.

Jesse, of Ocean City, Miss., is in critical but stable condition, recovering from damage to virtually every organ of his body as a result of losing nearly all his blood in the attack. Dr. Tim Livingston said this afternoon that Jesse appeared to have avoided potentially fatal brain swelling but did seem to suffer a brain injury.

"He likely has suffered a brain injury and that very well could be significant for him," Livingston said. "We do have evidence that his brain is not functioning correctly."

Livingston added that it was too early to determine the extent of the brain damage. Jesse, he said, underwent more dialysis for kidney failure and surgery to place temporary grafts on his leg wound.

Cautious Optimism

Dr. Rex Northup at Sacred Heart Children's Hospital told reporters earlier today that circulation in the boy's reattached arm and in his severely wounded leg was good, but the main battle was on a different front.

Despite concerns about brain damage, Northrup said the boy had shown enough positive signs — including a general stabilizing of his condition, breathing occasionally rising above the level of the ventilator he is on and nearly normal blinking of his eyes — that there were reasons to be hopeful of a recovery.

"The term 'cautious optimism' seems an appropriate phrase with him," Northrup said.

Heroic Save

Dr. Ian Rogers, a plastic surgeon at Pensacola's Baptist Hospital who helped reattach Jesse's arm, told ABCNEWS' Good Morning America he is hopeful the boy can regain near normal use of his arm in 12 to 18 months, with extensive therapy.

Jesse was splashing in knee-deep surf on Friday evening when a 7- foot-long bull shark bit through his right arm above the elbow and ripped into his right thigh.

His uncle, Vance Flosenzier, jumped in the water at Gulf Islands National Seashore and grabbed the boy, and then dragged the 250-pound shark on to the beach.

"He's a big guy. He got hold of it and tossed it ashore," District Ranger Supervisor John Bandurski told The Associated Press.

A ranger then shot the shark four times with a 9 mm pistol, and pried its jaw open with a police baton.

Pensacola beach volunteer firefighter Tony Thomas used a clamp to pull the boy's severed arm out of the shark's gullet.



-- (yikes@yikes.yikes), July 10, 2001.


It sounds like the poor kid needs to recover from what basically is complete kidney failure. That's not going to be easy.

Talk about heroism on the part of the uncle, though. Pulling a shark out of the water is about as brave as it gets.

-- Bemused (and_amazed@you.people), July 11, 2001.


What blew my mind in this story was the part where the kid was in knee-deep water when he was attacked. A 7 1/2 foot bull shark in knee-deep water!?! How did no one SEE it??!!

The kid isn't doing to well according to today's stories. Still in a coma and his kidneys aren't doing well either.

The uncle going in to the water and dragging the shark out is beyond heroic!!

Deano

-- Deano (deano@luvthebeach.com), July 11, 2001.


I was impressed by the uncle's heroics in this Florida case. Out here on the left coast, about the same time, we had a different incident. Some yahoo shot to death an uncle & his nephew over a parking space at a campsite:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/search/fastfind.cgi? jump=1&word=Morro&word_option=or

Suspect held while Southern California family mourns victims

MASON STOCKSTILL, Associated Press Writer Wednesday, July 11, 2001 (07-11) 20:12 PDT MORRO BAY, Calif. (AP) --

The man accused of shooting two campers to death at a state beach in Central California had been living out of his van for the past few months, camping at state parks in California and Oregon, authorities said Wednesday.

Stephen Deflaun, 42, allegedly killed Stephen D. Wells, of San Pedro, and his 11-year-old nephew, Jerry Rios Jr., on Sunday evening after an argument over a camping spot.

At least one witness said Deflaun appeared to be intoxicated, but no drugs or alcohol were found at the scene, said San Luis Obispo County sheriff's Lt. Steve Bolts.

Sheriff's detectives submitted the case to the district attorney Wednesday, but are continuing their investigation.

"The ongoing investigation is primarily focused on Deflaun's background and state of mind," Bolts said.

The shooting occurred after Rios and his cousin Brian, also 11, asked Deflaun to move his car from an oversized parking space at Morro Strand State Beach to accommodate the family's rented motorhome.

Deflaun reportedly refused, swearing at the boys. Wells drove to the kiosk at the park's entrance to report Deflaun's behavior, but Deflaun followed them and shot Wells and Rios, Bolts said. Rios died at the scene, and Wells died later at a hospital.

After he allegedly shot the two victims, witnesses said Deflaun fired the gun in different directions, including once at a park ranger, Bolt said. The park ranger fired back, hitting Deflaun in the stomach.

Deflaun has been under arrest at a local hospital since, where sheriff's deputies have been guarding him. He is in stable condition, Bolt said, but has not yet been questioned by detectives.

Meanwhile, relatives of the victims gathered at the Rios family home in Gardena, offering their support to other surviving family members.

"I'd give that guy life, or put him in the gas chamber," said Larry Rios, a cousin of Jerry Rios. "To shoot an innocent kid like that, and his uncle. They just wanted a place to park their RV."

Jerry Rios Jr. would have celebrated his 12th birthday in August. He enjoyed playing sports and other activities, relatives said.

"He liked baseball, soccer, football, fishing," said Larry Rios. "He was a good kid, good in school."

Wells, who leaves behind a wife, Betsie, a 5-year-old daughter and two stepchildren, had been planning to move his family away from San Pedro.

"Things were looking up for Stephen and Betsie," said neighbor Eric Fields, 35. "They were going to buy some land out of state where they could find peace."

Irene Castilleja, 25, said Wells was popular with local children.

"That man was always happy. His kids, and all the kids around here, really loved him," she told the Los Angeles Times

*********************************** I've camped at this site, in the years back. During Monarch butterfly over-wintering season, there's nothing better. Around camp, you watch these 'fragile beasts' wrestle each other towards the ground into the most amazing situations. . . only to have their ggg grandchildren show up to do the same routine next year.

It seems much more 'right' and correct in a way to have the dreaded enemy be an ancient beast, than those who dwell much closer to us.

-- flora (***@__._), July 12, 2001.


Assholes like this is why I am usually armed when I go camping.

-- Uncle Deedah (unkeed@yahoo.com), July 12, 2001.


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