Shark Attacks and Shark Attack Related Incidents News Articles on Shark Bites

Heidi is an avid scuba diver having just completed her 500th dive in May of this year. On June 7, 2023, Heidi was scuba diving in the Bahamas south of Taino Beach when she was attacked by a shark while on the ladder of a 32 ft. vessel. Heidi was expertly and miraculously given First Aid by Fred Riger on the vessel, who kept her from bleeding to death. Heidi was then stabilized and treated at the local hospital in Freeport, the Rand Memorial Hospital, and later taken by air ambulance to Jackson Ryder Trauma Center in Miami, FL. Unfortunately, the extent of the wound and the infection made an amputation of Heidi's left leg necessary. Heidi has had several surgeries and will require more in the near future.

Heidi is a dog mom to her favorite little guy, Billy (a miniature schnauzer), horse mom to Sunny, a Physical Therapist, a power lifter, and has taught many exercise classes at the local YMCA. Heidi is fearless, kind, gentle, giving, honest, loves everything nature, has an amazing green thumb, an avid underwater photographer and a wonderful friend.

We are raising funds to help pay for medical expenses not covered by insurance, travel expenses to get her back home, travel expenses to get her to and from therapy appointments when she's back home and any modifications to her home to assist her physically.

Heidi is a proud, independent woman that does not like to ask for help but her friends want to help her and this is a way. Please consider giving--any amount is helpful.

Heidi Ernst shark attack in Bahamas

A Marshalltown woman is recovering after she was attacked by a shark in the Bahamas.

Heidi Ernst was attacked while scuba diving on June 7.

According to a GoFundMe page, Ernst was getting back on a boat when the shark attacked.

Ernst is an experienced scuba driver and just completed her 500th dive in May this year. She tells KCCI that she has never feared sharks before.

"They typically just come and swim around us. No threatening behaviors, no aggressive behaviors," Ernst said.

https://www.kcci.com