ASSATEAGUE ISLAND, Md. - A man says he was bitten by a shark at Assateague State Park on Sunday morning.
Surfer Brendan Oster says he was paddling on his surfboard when he says a shark clamped down on his hand.
"I put my right hand in the water, I felt the hand get clamped. You know you feel a bite, you know when you get bit by something, you feel it on your whole hand. I looked down to my right and I could see the grayish kind of outline of a shark," he said.
Oster says he estimates he was about 100 yards out and it was approaching low tide.
"At that moment, I was absolutely terrified," he said. "I spin around and turn around to see where it went, and I see a large, pretty wide, about a foot and a half, two feet wide body, and it dips back down underwater."
"It was 100 percent a shark."
Oster shared he received preliminary treatment in an ambulance, before being admitted to TidalHealth Atlantic General where he received treatment and imaging. Oster says someone rushing to assist him sustained injuries, and he wanted the EMS crew on scene to help them, so Oster drove himself to the hospital.
"This never happens, I've never heard of this happening ever, apparently it has but still haven't really heard of it happening," Oster said. He says his best guess is this was a sand tiger shark, which mistook him for something else.
A spokesperson for Maryland's Department of Natural Resources says Park staff were alerted of a person reporting possibly being bit by a shark. The spokesperson says another park visitor attended to the person and called emergency services.
DNR says a Berlin Fire Department ambulance responded to treat the person, and Natural Resources Police were dispatched. DNR says Park Service staff and NRP did not have the opportunity to examine the injury.
The DNR spokesperson highlighted the rarity of the incident. "Shark-human encounters are very rare, although there are several shark species that do inhabit the waters of Maryland’s Atlantic coast. Swimmers are always advised to be aware of their surroundings."
Oster, who has been surfing since he was 14, says this will not deter him from going back in the water.
