The bull shark lunged at Jose Angel Abreu Hernandez before he could reach his boat. Within approximately 13 seconds, the eight-foot predator repeatedly attacked the 37-year-old diver, biting his leg and lunging toward his upper body. Jose fought desperately, using his hands to hold the shark's mouth away from him, but the animal continued attacking. Then one of his friends entered the water with a speargun. As Jose struggled to keep the shark from biting him again, his friend struck toward its mouth, forcing it away. The attack was over in seconds, but Jose's injuries were serious enough to require an emergency helicopter flight to Miami.
Chapter 1: A Spearfishing Trip Off Key West
On July 15, 2024, Jose Angel Abreu Hernandez was spearfishing with friends near Toppino Reef, off Key West, Florida.
The 37-year-old diver was participating in an activity that combines underwater hunting, swimming, and the use of specialized equipment.
Spearfishing is popular in the waters surrounding the Florida Keys, where reefs and other marine habitats support numerous fish species.
Divers may use spearguns to catch fish while swimming beneath the surface.
The activity requires awareness of underwater conditions, diving equipment, and the surrounding environment.
For Jose and his companions, the outing began as a recreational fishing trip.
They were in waters known for their marine life.
Toppino Reef lies offshore from Key West, within the broader marine environment of the Florida Keys.
The region supports many kinds of fish, as well as larger predators that move through reef and coastal habitats.
Sharks are part of that ecosystem.
Their presence is not unusual, although direct attacks on people remain relatively uncommon.
Jose had successfully caught a fish and was swimming back toward the boat.
That detail is important because the attack occurred during his return rather than during a deliberate attempt to approach a shark.
He was carrying out the ordinary final stage of a spearfishing dive.
The boat was his destination.
But before he reached it, a large shark approached.
Witnesses described the animal as a bull shark measuring approximately eight feet, or 2.4 meters, long.
The encounter developed almost immediately into a violent attack.
Jose had little time to react.
The shark lunged toward him.
Its jaws made contact with his leg.
And the diver suddenly found himself fighting for his life in open water.
The entire attack would last approximately 13 seconds.
Yet those seconds would be long enough to cause serious injuries and force a desperate rescue.