Heroic Pal Sees Shark Bite Friend’s Leg Underwater Goes into ‘Survival Mode’ to Rescue Him

Kevin Blanco, a 20-year-old student, found himself in the middle of a real-life aquatic thriller while enjoying his favorite pastime — spearfishing. An ordinary expedition off Marathon took a shocking twist as he was confronted by an underwater giant – a bull shark.

As he swam 70 feet underwater, Blanco was on a quest, scouting for fish. However, the tables shifted as he unknowingly became the prey of a formidable creature lurking nearby. Suddenly, a mammoth gray figure emerged out of the blue. The bull shark, estimated to be around nine to ten feet long and approximately 500 pounds, was sizing him up.

Without warning, the shark lunged, targeting Blanco’s left leg with ferocious bites. His recollection of the event was akin to being hit by a heavy-duty vehicle like a Ford F-150. The force of the attack and the rising pressure on his leg seemed to happen in slow motion, almost like a scene from a Hollywood thriller, he recalled, “When he actually got a hold of my leg, I was like, wow, like it happened, I got bit.”

In this tumultuous phase, Blanco’s friends quickly switched to “survival mode.” They promptly pulled him to the surface, battling against time as Blanco rapidly lost blood. They swiftly dialed 911, alerting the emergency services about the incident. A local news station managed to secure the recording of the urgent 911 call made by one of Blanco’s companions in the wake of the shark attack.

The emergency service dispatcher asked for the location of the crisis. One of Blanco’s friends on the other end of the call told them about a shark attack near Marathon. He pleaded for air rescue, emphasizing the severity of the situation. He described his friend’s condition.

The dispatcher assured him that they were dispatching an ambulance. Still, the caller insisted on the necessity of an airlift, repeatedly asking for a helicopter.

The dispatcher, needing more information, asked about the source of the bleeding. The caller informed them that the wound was on the victim’s thigh, describing it as a sizeable gash.

In the heat of the moment, Daniel Maduro, one of Blanco’s friends, showed exceptional resourcefulness. He quickly fashioned a makeshift tourniquet using his belt and weight belt, tightening it around Blanco’s bleeding leg. Maduro’s timely intervention played a vital role in stemming blood loss, the brave man added, “I saw the shark open its mouth and bite down into his leg. And for a half second, I was in major shock, staring at him. And then I went into survival mode to help my friend.”

Following their distress call, rescue teams responded swiftly. Blanco was airlifted to Jackson Memorial South. Upon his arrival, the medical staff noted the gravity of the situation. The shark’s bite had come perilously close to a major artery — a crucial detail that might have been a decisive factor in Blanco’s survival.

Omar Blanco, Kevin’s father and a captain with Miami-Dade Fire Rescue, voiced heartfelt gratitude for Maduro’s heroic actions. He acknowledged that everything that could have potentially gone awry in such a critical situation had miraculously gone right, he said, “I hardly know Danny, who I consider a hero. What he did was miraculous.”

Despite the traumatizing ordeal, Kevin Blanco remains unbowed. When asked if he would return to spearfishing, he answered, “I’ll be back as quick as I can.” His discharge from the hospital was anticipated to occur roughly a week post-incident.

This hair-raising narrative of Kevin Blanco’s encounter and subsequent survival serves as a reminder of the unpredictability of the natural world. Furthermore, it emphasizes the importance of timely intervention and the sheer power of human resilience in the face of daunting adversities.