Sebastian Achim, the man recovering in hospital following a shark bite on a vessel off the coast of Co Waterford has admitted that he was "scared for his life".
This happened after Mr Achim was angling for sharks on board a small vessel, south or Ardmore before the attack took place at 4.15pm yesterday. The Irish Coast Guard was alerted, before attending this incident. They dispatched the Rescue 117 helicopter to the scene. More on this here.
They released this statement: "The Coast Guard's Waterford based helicopter, Rescue 117, was tasked to the scene, as well as the Ballycotton RNLI all weather lifeboat and the Youghal RNLI inshore lifeboat".
"The man was winched on board... Rescue 117 and taken to Cork University Hospital and handed over into the care of the HSE.
Ballycotton RNLI were also required were also to launch by Dublin Coast Guard to assist a five metre "pleasure craft" which had five people on board near Ram Head in Ardmore, amid reports of a person being attacked by a shark.
"The remaining members of the group did not require assistance, and the casualty vessel subsequently returned safely to Dungarvan. Both lifeboats were then stood down", Ballycotton RNLI said in a statement.
Speaking about his ordeal to 'All About Cork with Paul Byrne', Mr Achim had said that when he landed what was his first ever Blue Shark, it "lunged" at him.
"We went off fishing for sharks along the coast of Co Waterford", he said. "I finally managed to land my first Blue Shark and while I was admiring the catch, the catch decided to lunge at my leg and grab my calf".
"It managed to rip part of my calf and do damage that we required special services for".
However, Mr Achim did insist that he is feeling better, and hope his recovery will be quick.
"I was just scared of it for my life at some point during it," he said. "I was pretty calm. I'm a pretty calm person. I was just thinking that I want to get home, hoping to get home safe".
He did also admit that there were "moments" where he was not sure if he would even make it. (All quotes according to RTÉ).
