Doctors on vacation assist in saving the shark attack victim

WALTON COUNTY, Fla. (WKRG)- The Walton County Sheriff’s Office beach marine unit continued to monitor the shoreline Saturday, following two shark attacks that sent three people to the hospital Friday.

Haylee Kennedy

09/06/2024

On Saturday, the beaches of the panhandle are closed.

In the Walton County Sheriff’s Facebook page the deputies discovered the 14-foot hammerhead shark to the just east off South County Highway 395 in Santa Rosa Beach, but they said it’s not a common sighting.

The shark attack that occurred on Friday injured a 45-year old woman while the second attack injured two girls aged 15 years old.

One girl suffered severe injuries to her hand and upper leg and the other suffered minor injuries to her foot.

Ryan Forbess as well as Mohammad Ali are both doctors and friends who enjoy family vacations in the 30A region every summer. They both Forbess along with Ali had been at Rosemary Beach in the water playing boogie board with their children when they were killed in the attack.

They inform News 5 that they heard pure panic at the shoreline and knew immediately there was likely to be a shark in close proximity.

“We all began to run off from the ocean. We grabbed our son and the other one grabbed his daughter and I looked to the left when we were making our way to the beach. I noticed the cloudy red water coming caused by the shark attack” Forbess said.

After they returned on the shores, their health education was in full effect.

Other Trauma nurses and EMTs who were on vacation also ran to the girls’ rescue.

Medical professionals from the team put tourniquets on her hand and upper leg ensuring that pressure was pressed on the wounds.

“When I looked at her and saw the seriousness of her injury I realized that any person who has any type of medical knowledge should be able to help,” Ali said.

Forbes and Ali stated that they had no idea of the other medical professionals who were assisting the girl but at the time, it did not matter since they all had the same purpose in mind: saving the life of a 15-year-old girl.

“We could have collaborated with them for a long time,” Forbess said.

We are grateful that everyone who could have helped was in exactly the right moment.

“It was truly amazing.” Forbes said. “Kind of God’s desire that everyone be willing to assist simultaneously.”

Forbes and Ali spoke with the family following they were admitted at the hospital. They have been told that she is likely to make it through the day.