Possible shark attack on South Beach

MIAMI BEACH, Fla. (WSVN) -- Something sunk its teeth into an unsuspecting swimmer on Saturday.

The swimmer was either attacked by a shark or a barracuda near 22nd Street and Collins Avenue in Miami Beach.

The screams from the water drew crowds to the shoreline. "And then I see the man swimming on the shore, and I see the pool of blood around him," said Hilario Herrera.

Herrera knew he had to act fast so he jumped in and pulled the man on to the sand. "He had a cut right here, and a cut right by his Achilles and part of his calf was actually sticking out."

To stop the bleeding, Herrera, a W Hotel beach attendant, used his white shirt and belt as a tourniquet. "He was just in panic and in shock about what was happening," said Herrera. "He was yelling help, and when we got out of the water, he was just shocked about his leg, so we held it up and tied the belt around it."

The man was taken off the beach on a backboard as his wife and young daughter watched. "The mom was just trying to pull the daughter away I guess coz when the daughter saw what was happening she started screaming, so she pulled her away."

The man is now being treated at Jackson Memorial Hospital. Miami Beach Fire-Rescue said they do know what clamped down on his leg, but their best guess is it was a shark or a barracuda. "He said he didn't see it," said Herrera. "But everyone kept saying it had to be a shark bite."

The victim could be at Jackson Memorial Hospital for several days. His name has not been released by Miami Fire Rescue.

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