Jersey Teen Bitten By Shark During Florida Vacation

MIAMI (CBSMiami) – A New Jersey teen brought home a very unique souvenir from his Florida vacation – bite wounds in his leg from a shark.

Christian Mercurio was fishing in waist-high water off Sanibel a week ago when his legs and feet were seized. He said his mother at first thought he was joking when he began screaming for help.

His mother, who is a registered nurse, elevated his legs and wrapped them in towels.

The shark's teeth missed major arteries, but left wounds on his leg and foot.

Investigators believe a six to eight foot bull shark mistook Mercurio for a fish in the murky water.

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