Shark or large barracuda bit man's leg twice in water near W Hotel

Doctors expect bite victim to recover

MIAMI – A Jackson Memorial Hospital trauma surgeon spoke out on Tuesday about the recovery of a swimmer who was bitten by a shark or a large barracuda on South Beach in Miami, Florida this past weekend.

The man was with his wife and daughter in waist-deep water on Saturday when he was bitten.

Doctors believe a shark or a large barracuda bit the man's calf twice, severing a major blood vessel. Other beachgoers helped the injured man and tied a belt around his leg to stop the bleeding.

Doctors said beachgoers did the right thing. The man was brought to Jackson Memorial Hospital in time, had a blood transfusion, received stitches, and was expected to make a full recovery.

"He will regain about 95, about 100 percent of function over time. He's working now with some physical therapy and should be discharged later today," said Dr. Howard Lieberman, a trauma surgeon at Jackson Memorial Hospital.

Doctors said he has already started walking.

The man's name has not yet been released.

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