'It felt like a little punch to my leg': Less than a week after shark bite, teen ready to surf again
HONOLULU (Video: KITV via CNN) —
Less than a week after he received more than 100 stitches for a shark bite, 14-year-old Parker Blanchette is ready to ride the waves again.
The eighth-grader from Hawaii, who said he surfs six times a week, described the moment he was bitten by a shark while jumping off a wave last week.
"It felt like a little punch to my leg and I immediately hopped on my board after seeing the blood and paddled to shore," he told KITV.
Lifeguards say they've seen more sharks in the area between April and June due to breeding and birthing season.
In the event of a shark sighting, the beach is closed to activity for 45 minutes.
Although Parker was hospitalized for two days, he wasn't phased by the attack.
"There's not much to it. We're kind of in their territory," he said. "It's just kinda like getting struck by lightning. Such a little possibility."
Parker's mother, on the other hand, was shaken up by the incident.
"He said, 'Hey mom, I need you to come pick me up. I got bit by a shark and I'm gonna need a couple of stitches. I got down here and it was more than a couple of stitches — Parker was just so cool, calm and collected on the phone," Amanda Blanchette said.
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05/03/2021 - Parker Blanchette - 14yr - Hawaii
05/03/2021 - Parker Blanchette - 14yr - Hawaii
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