Shark bites woman’s arm — and won’t let go

A woman’s dip in the ocean in Boca Raton turned into an ordeal Sunday when a nurse shark mistook her arm for food.

The two-foot shark latched onto her forearm and didn’t want to let go, according to Boca Raton Fire Rescue Services.

“It latched on pretty well,” said Inspector Robert Lemons, a spokesman for fire rescue, who added the woman was not swimming too far offshore.

When crews responded to 1400 N. Ocean Blvd. the shark was dead, but still attached to the 23-year-old’s arm.

“The shark wouldn't give up," beachgoer Shlomo Jacob, of Boca Raton, told the Sun Sentinel. “It was barely breathing but it wasn't letting go of her arm, like it was stuck to her or something.”

Ocean Rescue Capt. Clint Tracy told the paper that woman remained calm and there wasn’t much blood.

The woman — and the shark — were taken to Boca Raton Regional Hospital. The woman was in stable condition, according to fire rescue.

“It wouldn’t let go,” Lemons said of the shark. “They made the decision to keep her comfortable and just take her to the hospital.”

This story was originally published May 15, 2016 at 5:50 PM with the headline "Shark bites woman’s arm — and won’t let go."