Barry University athlete suffers shark bite

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (WSVN) -- A Barry University basketball player is temporarily sidelined after suffering a bad shark bite while swimming in the ocean.

Chad Renfro survived a shark attack while he was home visiting his parents in Jacksonville, Wednesday.

The Barry University junior went surfing at a nearby beach and while riding the waves, a shark latched onto his leg. "I just got a wave and I was paddling back out and I felt a shark clamp on my foot," said Renfro.

The force of the bite was strong but Renfro managed to make it to shore even through the excruciating pain.

Lifeguards rushed in and transported Renfro to the hospital. The shark's teeth were so sharp, they sliced a tendon and resulted in 85 stitches.

Renfro was relieved after he saw the damaged done by the shark. As a basketball player for Barry, he knew the bite wasn't bad enough to keep him from playing ball. "It wasn't as bad as loosing your whole foot," he said.

The college student's spirits are strong despite going through what most beach goers would call their worst nightmare. "They were doing x-rays to see if there might have been a shark tooth, but there wasn't," he said. "No souvenir."

Doctors say he'll make a full recovery. Once that happens, Renfro intends on returning to surfing and basketball.

Lifeguards think Renfro's attackers was either a bull or lemon shark.

Renfro says he has always known sharks are out there and there is a chance they could attack. But he says he thought there was a greater chance of him winning the lottery then getting bit by a shark.

(Copyright 2012 by Sunbeam Television Corp. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)