Earlier today my cousin - Kirsten - and I were swimming out in the Gulf of Mexico, just off the coast of Port Aransas. Just as the shore begun to get to small to see we decided to begin swimming back to shore on our boogie boards. Glancing up I realised that we could see my uncle and other cousin - Craig - on the shore and noticed my uncle waving at us with his arms. The next thing, Craig joined in the waving too. Kirsten and I guessed it was just time for lunch when suddenly I noticed Uncle Roland frantically pointing to our left. That was when we saw it.
This sharply pointed fin swimming in a straight line, a mere three hundred yards from us. Kirsten shouted 'shark' and we began frantically swimming towards the shore. Adrenaline pumping, heart trying to burst out my rib cage and mind convinced that we weren't moving at all. Feeling like we were doomed I kept telling Kirsten that I wanted to live, Kirsten just kept telling me we had to move faster. Watching my uncle and Craig swim hastily towards us, leaving my aunt on the shore clueless as to what was happening my worst fears were confirmed. We were swimming in open water too deep for even me to stand in with a shark within danger's reach.
Finally we all were together and in knee-deep water but still eager to get out quickly, baby sharks were known to swim in that depth of water too. Just as we thought we were fairly safe, my Uncle yelped in pain and stumbled.
Not knowing what had attacked him and with emotions already on a high we continued on our hurried pace to get out of the water. Never before had the shore seemed so far away. My uncle was now limping, stumbling and very clearly in pain. All sorts of horrid thoughts were running through my mind and I half expected the water around his leg to turn red signifying the worst. Suddenly my foot brushed up against something slimy and hard, screaming I scared my cousins to move even faster than we already were.
On land at last, my aunt was frantically asking us all what had happened. My uncle's foot had a large puncture wound on it that as bleeding quite a bit. Thankfully Kirsten and Craig are both training for medical positions and had fairly advanced first aid skills. Upon returning to our apartment everyone dashed about trying to attend to Uncle Roland's wound which we had concluded was a sting ray puncture wound. After a while the wound began to heal nicely making us all relax a little bit.
I must say it was a frightening experience but not one that I will forget in a hurry. Although I may think twice about where I go swimming next time!