Teen Survivor Shares Story of Resilience and Helping Others After Shark Attack

A Teen's Extraordinary Story of Survival and Resilience

A 16-year-old girl from Aspen, Colorado, is now sharing her incredible story after surviving two shark attacks during a family vacation. Her journey of survival has become a powerful testament to human resilience and strength.

Annabelle Carlson, who lives in Aspen, was on a summer trip with her family to Belize in August 2025 when the unexpected happened. The family had always loved traveling together, and this particular trip was their big adventure of the year. They were all certified divers and enjoyed scuba diving as a group.

On the third day of their trip, Annabelle and her mother dove 120 feet deep into the ocean. They encountered several sharks and some fascinating marine life. After their dive, they returned to the boat to join their siblings, who were eager to take turns jumping off the top deck.

Annabelle decided to go first. As she jumped into the water, a shark emerged from beneath the boat and attacked her hands. Instinctively, she began hitting and punching the shark about six times. She described the moment as being face-to-face with the creature, which was only biting her hands at that point.

The other divers in the group threw her a life ring, but due to the severe damage to her hands, she couldn’t grab it. Instead, she managed to loop her arms around it. As they pulled her in, another shark attacked her right leg.

People on the boat started throwing oxygen tanks at the shark in an attempt to get it off her so she could return to the boat. At that moment, the family realized that the boat’s first aid kit didn’t have the necessary medical equipment for life-saving measures. However, a tourist in their group, who was also a diver, offered her a tourniquet he had on hand. They applied it to her leg to stop the bleeding.

Annabelle had to fight to stay conscious during the one-and-a-half-hour boat ride to an island where a helicopter and emergency responders were waiting to take her to a hospital. She described the experience as the hardest thing she had ever done, as she knew that falling asleep could mean losing consciousness and possibly not surviving.

After being stabilized, she spent a month in a Miami hospital for treatment. When she finally returned home to Aspen, she noticed something was wrong with her leg. The shark had bitten her from her ankle to just below her knee, removing most of the flesh and leaving a large open wound that led to a rare mycobacterial infection.

She was taken to Children’s Hospital Colorado for treatment, where she underwent multiple surgeries. Dr. Julia Sanders, Director of Pediatric Orthopedic Trauma at the hospital, shared how impressed she was with Annabelle’s determination. Despite the challenges, Annabelle has already returned to running on a prosthetic limb, working out, and even returning to scuba diving.

Annabelle believes that everything happens for a reason and that there is always light at the end of the tunnel. She has had about a dozen surgeries so far and is scheduled for another one in a month.

Looking ahead, Annabelle has big ambitions. One of her main goals is to start a foundation to donate first aid kits to boats and camps, as these kits played a crucial role in saving her life. She emphasizes that without the tourniquet, she wouldn’t be here today.

Her story serves as a reminder of the incredible resilience of young people and the importance of preparedness in dangerous situations. Annabelle’s journey is not just about survival—it’s about hope, perseverance, and the power of community support.