15-Year-Old American Loses Leg After Getting Attacked By Shark In Belize

A 15-year-old American tourist lost her right leg after getting attacked by a shark off the coast of Belize. According to ABC News,  Sofia Carlson was on a diving excursion near Halfmoon Caye in the Gulf of Honduras on Tuesday (August 6) when a shark attacked her.

Tour operators pulled Carlson out of the water and transported her to a nearby Belize Coast Guard base, where officers stabilized her. She was then airlifted to a local hospital.

Adm. Elton Bennett of the Belize Coast Guard said, "She's stable, and she's recovering at this time."

"It was an unfortunate situation. I want to say that this is perhaps the first time ever recorded an attack, as such," Belize's Minister of the Blue Economy Andre Perez said. "According to, yesterday, I think one of the most important things I want to share right now is that we are being informed that the victim is okay. She is alive, and she made it. What is the damage? We don't know as yet. But certainly, it is a very unfortunate situation."