Share this @internewscast.com
Three years after a terrifying shark attack left a 10-year-old boy without his right leg below the knee, he is now a teen sharing his journey through this life-changing ordeal and the incredible sequence of events that led to his survival.
Jameson Reeder Jr., currently 13, along with his father, Jameson Reeder Sr., recounted to Fox News Digital their experience from August 2022. They had been nine miles out from the shore in the clear waters of Looe Key Reef in the Florida Keys, along with Jameson’s mother and siblings. Young Jameson had taken a GoPro camera underwater to catch a glimpse of turtles and marine life.
Jameson Sr. said he was just resurfacing from the seabed to tell Jameson Jr.’s younger brother, Nehemiah, what he saw “when I heard the screaming.”
“When we got Jameson onto the boat, we saw the devastating injuries and realized he had been brutally attacked by a giant shark,” Jameson Sr. explained. “The shark snuck up on him, essentially hunting, and appeared out of nowhere.”
However, the biggest miracle of them all, Jameson Sr. said, was his son’s belief that “Jesus will save me.”
Jameson Jr. said he saw “a man on fire” as he tried to stay awake during the ride to shore, and when the fire cleared “it was actually Jesus.”
“I looked at him, he looked back at me, without saying a word, but shared a comforting peace,” recalled Jameson Jr., who then sang, “Here I am to Worship,” all the way to shore to remain conscious.
After the incident, Jameson Jr. was hospitalized for three weeks and underwent four surgeries. He will require further surgery on his leg as he grows.
Jameson Reeder Jr. refuses to let his injury hold him back from enjoying life. He actively participates in surfing, baseball, rock climbing, and other activities, embracing a spirit of fun as a typical kid. (Fox News Digital)
Despite this, the 13-year-old has yet to let the injury stop him from having fun.
“I surf, I play baseball, and sometimes I do a little bit of rock climbing and school,” he said. “I play electric guitar and I sing.”
The boy has also returned to the site of the life-changing shark encounter to face his fears.
“The Lord gave me the strength to go back to the reef,” he said, adding that he had a great time swimming with his friends and family.
Jameson Jr. also has a newfound love of sharks, with the image of one of the predators on his prosthetic leg. He also says that he wants to go shark diving one day – without a cage.
The Reeder family said they expect to return to the reef again later this month on the anniversary of the shark attack.
