The shark had bitten his leg and made repeated lunges toward his body.
The exact nature of every wound is not fully described in the supplied account.
It would therefore be inaccurate to invent specific surgeries, blood transfusions, or internal injuries.
What is known is that Jose was taken to hospital in Miami and was expected to recover.
That prognosis represented an encouraging outcome after a dangerous encounter.
The attack had lasted approximately 13 seconds.
Yet the injuries were serious enough to require emergency air transportation.
The helicopter flight also demonstrated how many people became involved in the effort to save him.
His friend had intervened during the attack.
The group had brought him aboard the boat.
They had transported him toward shore.
Emergency personnel then continued the response.
Medical teams would assess and treat the injuries.
Each stage depended on the previous one.
Had Jose remained in the water with the shark, he could have suffered additional injuries.
Had his companions been unable to bring him aboard, reaching medical care would have been more difficult.
And without emergency transportation, the journey to specialized treatment could have taken longer.
The sequence illustrates why surviving a shark attack is often a collective effort.
Jose fought for himself during the first moments.
His friend intervened.
His companions helped him escape the water.
And emergency responders took over the medical evacuation.
By the time Jose reached Miami, the immediate threat from the shark was far behind him.
But the extraordinary circumstances of his rescue were only beginning to attract attention.
Chapter 8: The Friend Jose Credited With Saving His Life
After surviving the attack, Jose credited his friend's intervention with saving his life.
That assessment reflected the extraordinary circumstances of the rescue.
Jose had been fighting a bull shark while attempting to return to his boat.
The animal had bitten his leg and continued lunging toward his upper body.
He tried to hold the shark's mouth away with his hands.
But he could not completely stop the attacks.
His friend then entered the water with a speargun.
The rescuer approached the shark and used the weapon to strike toward its mouth.
The animal moved away.
The attack ended.
Jose was able to reach the boat with assistance.
From Jose's perspective, his friend's actions had interrupted a potentially fatal encounter.
The rescue was remarkable because of its timing.
The attack lasted only about 13 seconds.
There was little opportunity to develop a plan or wait for professional assistance.
The friend had to recognize the danger and act immediately.