The incident became memorable because of the extraordinary speed of the attack and the equally rapid response.
Only about 13 seconds separated the beginning of the encounter from its end.
Within that time, Jose was bitten, fought to defend himself, and received help from a friend who entered the water to confront the shark.
The speed of the events made the situation especially dangerous.
There was no opportunity to wait for a rescue team.
No time to move the boat into a different position before the first bite.
And no guarantee that Jose could escape through his own efforts.
He was already struggling to keep the animal's jaws away from his body.
His friend recognized that the attack was continuing.
The decision to enter the water exposed the rescuer to serious danger.
But the intervention succeeded.
The shark moved away, allowing Jose to escape.
That outcome did not mean the animal had been overpowered in a contest of strength.
The shark remained a powerful predator.
Its precise reason for moving away cannot be established from the supplied account.
What is known is that the friend's use of the speargun interrupted the attack.
The rescue also depended on the actions that followed.
Jose needed to be brought aboard the boat.
His companions needed to transport him toward shore.
Emergency personnel then arranged advanced medical care.
The helicopter flight to Miami represented the final stage of the immediate evacuation.
The incident therefore involved more than one courageous action.
Jose fought for himself.
His friend intervened.
His companions helped bring him to safety.
And medical responders continued the effort.
Each stage mattered.
The shark's bite had already caused injuries.
The repeated lunges threatened to make the situation worse.
Stopping the attack prevented further contact with the animal.
Getting Jose out of the water allowed the group to begin addressing the medical emergency.
And reaching a hospital provided access to professional treatment.
The story also illustrates the particular dangers that can arise during spearfishing.
The activity takes place in an environment where marine predators naturally hunt fish.
Divers may encounter sharks while swimming near reefs or carrying captured fish.
That does not mean an attack is inevitable.
Nor does it establish that every shark approaching a spearfisher is behaving aggressively.
But the presence of fish and other marine activity can create situations requiring careful awareness.
In Jose's case, the attack occurred while he was returning to the boat after catching a fish.
The exact reason for the shark's behavior remains unknown.