Deputies: Cape Coral man bitten by lemon shark

Walter Kefauver, 58, airlifted to Miami after shark bites deep into his left hand

LOWER KEYS, Fla. – Deputies say a 58-year-old Cape Coral man was airlifted to Miami on Thursday after he was bitten on the hand by a 4-foot lemon shark.

According to the Monroe County Sheriff's Office, Walter Kefauver and his 18-year-old nephew, Cody Ellis, were on board an 18-foot Action Craft flats boat in the Snipe Point area when they caught a bonefish and decided to try to catch a shark.

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They baited their hook with a piece of barracuda and managed to hook a 4-foot lemon shark, deputies said.

After reeling it in to the boat, the two were attempting to remove the shark from the hook when deputies said it lunged at Kefauver, biting deep into his left hand near his wrist.

Authorities said Ellis called 911 for help, then brought his uncle into the Shark Key boat ramp where paramedics were waiting.

Deputies said Kefauver was taken to Lower Keys Hospital, then airlifted to Miami. Although the injury was not reportedly life threatening, deputies said the damage to his hand was extensive and the local hospital was not equipped to handle its treatment.