shark

Woman Released From Hospital After Nurse Shark Attaches Itself to Arm

The shark was still attached to her arm when she was taken to the hospital

A 23-year-old woman who was bitten by a small nurse shark Sunday in Boca Raton, Florida, and hospitalized with the shark still attached to her arm has been released. 

Crews arrived at Boca Raton Beach in Red Reef Park to find the 23-year-old female with a 2-foot nurse shark still attached to her right forearm, according to Boca Raton Fire Rescue Services.

The shark had been killed prior to the Fire Department's arrival at 1400 N. Ocean Boulevard, but it was still attached to her arm.

The woman, Shaylen Borkowski, was transported to Boca Raton Regional Hospital in stable condition. Borkowski has since been released from the hospital.

In a post on social media, Borkowski showed off the shark's body in a plastic bag while still at the hospital. The post said the shark was being taken home for a proper burial.

It's not immediately known how the woman came into contact with the shark, but some beachgoers told the Sun-Sentinel that several people were antagonizing the shark and holding it by the tail.

Officials have not confirmed these reports. A friend of Borkowski told NBC 6 through a Facebook message Monday that Borkowski didn't provoke the shark.

Shark expert and conservationist Jim Abernethy tells NBC affiliate WPTV in West Palm Beach that nurse sharks are extremely common in Florida and are very docile.

According to Abernathy, "nearly 100 percent" of so-called attacks by nurse sharks happen due to the animal being provoked.

A full grown nurse shark can grow as long as 14-feet, Abernathy says.

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