Two American tourists, Rileigh Decker, 20, and Summer Layman, 24, are recovering from severe injuries after surviving a shark attack while swimming in the crystal-clear waters of Bimini Bay, Bahamas, last Friday. The friends, who were vacationing with a group aboard a private boat, described the traumatic incident in an exclusive interview as they recuperate in Florida hospitals.
The attack occurred shortly after the pair jumped off the boat for a swim. As they swam toward the vessel’s ladder, Decker felt a sudden tug on her leg. “I knew right then I was bitten,” she recounted from her hospital bed, her voice trembling. “I couldn’t move my leg—it just gave out.” Layman, who holds a medical certification, initially focused on aiding her friend, unaware that she, too, had sustained a deep bite to her foot. “I didn’t realize I was injured until everyone started screaming about the blood,” Layman said.
Quick thinking by their companions proved critical. A tourniquet fashioned from a rope and towel stemmed the bleeding in Decker’s leg until Bahamian first responders arrived. Both women were rushed to a local clinic before being airlifted to a hospital in New Providence for emergency care. They returned to the U.S. on Saturday, where Decker underwent two surgeries to repair a shattered tibia and severed Achilles tendon. A third surgery is anticipated. Layman’s foot injuries, while less severe, required extensive stitching.
A Miraculous Survival
The women believe the attacker was a bull shark, a species known for its proximity to shorelines and aggressive behavior. “It happened so fast—there was no warning,” Decker said. “One moment we were laughing, the next we were fighting for our lives.”
Dr. Marcus Allen, a marine biologist unaffiliated with the case, noted that while bull sharks are linked to shallow-water incidents, unprovoked attacks remain extraordinarily rare. “Sharks don’t target humans. Most bites are cases of mistaken identity,” he explained. Data from the Florida Museum of Natural History’s International Shark Attack File underscores this: only 47 unprovoked shark bites were recorded globally in 2024, with fatalities even rarer.
Gratitude Amid Trauma
Both women emphasized their gratitude for the friends who acted swiftly. “If they hadn’t been there, we wouldn’t be here,” Decker said, fighting tears. Layman added, “The road to recovery is long, but we’ll face it together.”
The incident has reignited discussions about shark safety in tropical tourist hotspots, though experts stress that such events are statistical anomalies. The Bahamas’ Ministry of Tourism has not issued new advisories, reiterating that shark encounters are uncommon and preventable with vigilance.
As Decker and Layman focus on healing, their story stands as a testament to resilience—and the fragile line between adventure and peril in the natural world.
