Fort Lauderdale teen speaks out after shark bite

Michael Adler's foot expected to heal completely after shark attack

SEBASTIAN, Fla.A Fort Lauderdale teenager is speaking out after he was bitten by a shark in Sebastian, north of Vero Beach.

Michael Adler, nicknamed "Mikey," went surfing in Sebastian with three friends Saturday, eager to take on the waves whipped up by recent storms.

But the surfing excursion did not go as planned.

"I never thought a shark bite would happen to me because it's so rare," said Adler. "I mean, I didn't really feel that much pain. I'm not too mad about it."

The shark only bit the teenager's foot, but officials said the injury was pretty serious, requiring 20 stitches and surgery to repair four of his tendons.

"I was off my board, and when I went to go back on the board, the shark bit me right in the foot," said Adler. "I immediately tried to yank it out."

At the sand bar in 4 feet of water, the St. Thomas freshman didn't even realize until Sunday that he had another 20 shark tooth marks on his leg.

"I don't regret surfing yesterday because the waves were so good, I don't regret anything," said Adler. "My friends, after they dropped me off at the hospital, they went back out surfing in the same spot."

The recovery time for Adler's wounds to heal fully is about six weeks, which is good timing because Adler said he is headed to Nicaragua in two months for a surfing trip.