TRURO, MA — The New York man who was bitten by a shark off Cape Cod two weeks ago said he escaped its clutches by punching it in the gills. William Lytton, 61, told The Associated Press he was swimming in about 8-10 feet of water in Truro when he felt the shark take hold of his leg.
Lytton was released from the hospital and transferred to Spaulding Rehabilitation Center over the weekend.
“I initially was terrified, but, really, there was no time to think,” Lytton told the AP. “It doesn’t feel like I did anything heroic. A lot of this was luck.”
Lytton said smacking the shark tore some tendons in his left hand.
>>>Read: Video Shows Great White Shark ‘Very Close’ To Cape Beach
Lytton’s wife and two daughters were on the beach during the attack.
He told the AP he was airlifted to Tufts Medical Center, placed in a two-day coma, and had six surgeries. Doctors pumped 12 pints of blood into him.
Lytton was originally listed in serious condition but was upgraded to good condition by late last week. He was transferred to Spaulding Rehabilitation Center over the weekend.
“It’s kind of terrifying thinking about it,” he said. “I know it’s not the best thing to say, but I didn’t like sharks before, and like them even less now.
The shark attack was the first in Massachusetts waters since 2012. It happened about 300 yards south of Long Nook Beach in Truro.
A swimming ban has been called several times in Truro this summer due to a shark sighting close to shore.
Researchers are working to identify the type of shark responsible for the attack.
>>>Read the full AP story here
Photo: Beachgoers help carry Lytton up Long Nook Beach. Courtesy of Twitter user Mary Ellen, used with permission in a previous Patch story.
Alex Newman contributed to this report