Boy, 11, Who Lost Part Of His Leg In A Horror Shark Attack Vows To Get Back In The Water

A brave 11-year-old boy who was attacked by a shark and had a part of his leg amputated wants to swim in the ocean as soon as possible.

Jameson Reeder, a North Carolina native from Huntersville, was snorkeling among coral reefs in the Florida Keys with his family last month when he came across a 9-foot bull shark.

(Image: YouTube/Good Morning America)

His parents heard their terrified son crying from the back of their boat and quickly dragged him away from the shark and pulled him back inside.

Jameson was then carried to the mainland by a quicker nearby boat, where he was airlifted to a children's hospital in Miami, where he was immediately taken into the operating room. A woman from another boat then swam over to provide basic medical help.

(Image: YouTube/Good Morning America)

Jameson was permitted to go home after undergoing four operations and spending three weeks in the hospital, where he spent his birthday with loved ones. Since then, he has been using a wheelchair and is learning how to use a walker.

He will soon need more surgeries, and to aid with the stinging pains in his leg that he frequently has, he always has a soft toy named "Hedgie" with him.

"When I squeeze, the pain goes away," he explained to ABC News.

(Image: YouTube/Good Morning America)

He has already informed his parents that he wants to face his fears by going back to the exact reef where he came dangerously near to losing his life, but he is now determined to be equipped with a prosthetic leg so he can get back in the water.

Speaking to ABC News, Jameson said: "I want to get my prosthetic and get back in the ocean. I'm happy to be alive because a 9ft bull shark should have taken me down."

Reliving the moment she thought she was going to lose her son, mum Mary Reeder said: "We were in the back of the boat and we just heard Jameson start screaming. He was also waving his arms.”

"I didn't see anything in the water. I just saw him screaming for us to get to him, but he's stronger than I could ever be after that because of his positivity and faith."

Jameson Senior, his father, is a pastor and believes his son's survival was a miracle.

"We shouldn't have our son," he said. "He should not be alive.”

"What he's gone through and the fact that he is still here is just a reminder of how short and fragile life is."