A 22-year-old Georgia man is recovering in a Florida hospital after being bitten by a shark while pushing his pregnant fiancée to safety in Daytona Beach.

Jacorey High, of Henry County, Georgia, was vacationing with his family when the attack occurred on the evening of Saturday, July 25, 2026. He and his fiancée were swimming in waist-deep water when a medium-sized shark suddenly struck.

High said he immediately focused on getting his fiancée out of the water. “I realized right away it was a shark because of the way it bit down on my foot, but I was more worried about getting my fiancé out of the water,” he told reporters. He pushed her toward safety, then fought off the animal as it clamped onto his left foot and later tried to bite his arm and other leg.

Once on the beach, High noticed heavy bleeding from his foot. Emergency crews transported him to a local hospital, where he underwent surgery for extensive damage to his foot and lower leg. Doctors have indicated that full recovery could take around three months. High has expressed hope that the injury will not permanently affect his ability to work.

The couple and their family are still in Florida as High recovers. The incident has drawn attention for High’s quick actions in prioritizing his fiancée’s safety during the sudden attack in relatively shallow water.

Shark attacks remain rare, but beach authorities continue to advise swimmers to stay aware of their surroundings, avoid swimming at dawn or dusk, and leave the water if a shark is sighted.

Sources

• Fox 5 Atlanta