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Beach fun turns into ER run
UH senior was enjoying Memorial Day in the warm Gulf waters when a shark took a bite out of her holiday

Kori Robertson was minding her own business, standing waist-deep in water chatting with a friend, when she felt a jerk on her leg, followed by sharp pain. The 22-year-old college student didn't know what was happening, but she knew it wasn't good.

"I had been stung by a jellyfish before and it did not feel like that," said Robertson, who was enjoying Memorial Day with a handful of friends on Follett's Island, near Surfside, when the good time suddenly ended. "It didn't feel like a little fish nibbling at me. I had to pull my leg up out of the water, then I thought I had to get out of the water. Now."

Though she never saw the culprit in the brown water, Robertson said she was told by doctors it was a shark that had bitten her right thigh, likely a bull shark, which are plentiful along the upper Texas coast and are known for aggressive behavior. Not for nothing are they likened to aquatic pit bulls. Then again, said shark was probably minding its own business as well, swimming through the shallow water, looking for a snack, when suddenly a fleshy object appeared right before it.

"I just want people to know about this," Robertson said. "It's not something you usually think about"

Robertson, a senior education major at the University of Houston, is more of a beach lover than a shark hater despite her fresh wounds. She just wants people to think twice about the water they and their children are playing in. Bull sharks rarely inflict fatal wounds, but they can inflict a nasty gash that may require multiple surgeries if tendons are severed.

In that sense, Robertson was lucky. Whatever bit her did not get a good hold on her thigh. Her skin was badly cut, but the bite was only 1 centimeter deep. Her doctors' biggest concern is infection from the warm Gulf water. Her concern: "Big scars."

Robertson's boyfriend rushed her to the hospital after wrapping her thigh in a towel. Emergency room doctors at UTMB in Galveston treated her wounds but did not stitch them up, fearing that would make it easier for infection to set in. She is recuperating at her mother's home in The Woodlands.

"Even on the way to the hospital, I said we need to take pictures of this," she said. "I have nieces and nephews who I take out further than this. "

Shark attacks along the Texas coast are uncommon and rarely fatal. The International Shark Attack File maintained by the Florida Museum of Natural History shows 34 attacks from 1911 through 2010 for all of Texas, with 16 in the last decade, none of them fatal.

"I'm definitely not scared, though it will take me awhile before I go further out in the water," Robertson said. "You need to use caution. You definitely want to be able to see your feet."

i saw that story on the news last night.talk about ouch!!!!

Poor young lady, that will take awile to heal. She is lucky the shark didnt get a good hold.

When I was young, my uncle was bitten once. We were fishing off shore and he was always trying to catch sharks. He was about half drunk, when he hooked up with a small black tip. About 5ft long. He got it in the boat and hit it in the head with a hammer until it stopped moving. He then stood up so his a guy could take his picture. He was holding the shark by the tail when it swung around and latched onto his leg. We couldnt help but laugh as he jumped around hitting the shark. Of course we got him back into shore a quick as possible. Leg all wrapped up. He had on long pants, so the cuts were not too bad. I dont think he even went to the doctor.

After boating my first shark last year, I am absolutely terrified of wading out these days...

I've had them eat my fish on my stringer while wading. Make sure you have a long one. It's crazy when you feel something tugging. I use a do net now when I wade and I haven't had one mess with my fish since. I will definitely be on the lookout. This is the area I normally wade during the summer. With the high salinities because of the dry conditions and warmer water than usual this time of year, they'll be following the baitfish and gamefish. Pretty sure it was a bull shark. They are some nasty beasts.

small bite, or a gigantic leg.

Either way, I don't wade anymore and buddies make fun of me...but aint having this.

Dang, now I kinda want a scar like that...guess I might try wading again.

Pulled out 20 sharks at San Luis Pass a few years back- 60 yards from about 50 people swimming. They all watched and dont recall anyone leaving the water.

How long should your stringer be? (I had to clarify we were talking about a stringer...)



We might be equally as demented... When I first saw it, I was thinking, 'how the hell do I get a shark to bite me and leave such a cool looking mark without losing half my leg?'...

I'm sorry. It wasn't a shark. It was me. I couldn't help myself. I'm so ashamed of myself. I promise, I won't bite anymore unsuspecting girls.

She's very cute... I was tempted to say something similar to what you said, but I am sure she is related to someone that frequents this site! haha...

WRONG !!! Just WRONG !!! lol

I have never been to surfside beach, is the fishing good out for wading and who far can you walk out there?

Thanks for the post. Looks like about a 4ft'er and yes I would have bit her leg too

Bulls are bad, my bud in Fl said that they were thick as flys on (ya know) all year.

Maybe its out turn this year.

Close enough to the beach for you ? This is a free swimming shark , not a caught and released . On this afternoon , my friend said you could
See 5 to 7 sharks at any given time.




This was near the state park at Sabine pass.

Mo