A 13-year-old girl from Sugar Land is recovering and preparing for surgery after she was bitten by a barracuda while swimming during a family birthday trip to Turks and Caicos.
Claire Macdonel was in shallow water about four to five feet deep on the first day of the vacation when she performed a handstand. She was wearing a shiny bracelet and a resort wristband at the time. She felt sudden pressure on her hand, followed by a hard bite. When she looked, she saw a large silver tail swimming away and significant bleeding from her hand.
Her mother, Jen Macdonel, helped get her to shore. A bystander who identified herself as a nurse applied a tourniquet while they waited for an ambulance. Jen later described heavy bleeding that continued even after the tourniquet was applied and said she feared her daughter could lose the hand.
Claire was treated at a local hospital, where doctors cleaned the wounds and placed a temporary suture. The family was able to continue the vacation. After returning to the Houston area, Claire was scheduled for tendon-repair surgery on her hand. Doctors expect a full recovery.
Barracuda attacks on people are uncommon. Claire and her mother believe the shiny jewelry may have attracted the fish, similar to how a lure draws attention. Claire, who hopes to become a marine biologist, said the experience has not changed her interest in ocean animals.
She has advised other swimmers to remove jewelry before entering the water. The family has shared the story to raise awareness about the rare risk.
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