Jacorey High underwent surgery after suffering a serious foot injury in shallow water off the Volusia County coast.
DAYTONA BEACH SHORES, Fla. — A Georgia man is recovering from surgery after he said he pushed his pregnant fiancée toward shore and fought off a shark that bit him during a weekend trip to Florida.
Jacorey High, of Henry County, Georgia, was swimming with his fiancée in shallow water Saturday evening when he felt something clamp onto his left leg. High said he quickly recognized the animal as a shark and focused on getting his fiancée away from it. The encounter left him with a serious injury to his foot and began a recovery that doctors said could take about three months.
High said the shark returned after the first bite and appeared to move toward his arm and other leg. He pushed the animal away and made his way out of the water. He described it as gray and medium-sized, although authorities had not confirmed the species as of Monday.
“I realized right away it was a shark because of the way it bit down on my foot, but I was more worried about getting my fiancé out of the water,” High told FOX 5 Atlanta. He said he did not fully feel the pain until he reached the hospital and received medication.
Emergency crews took High to a nearby hospital, where surgeons treated the injury. He said he saw heavy bleeding after reaching shore, but the full extent of the damage was not immediately clear. Doctors told him the bite caused extensive damage and that his recovery could last several months.
High said he hopes the injury did not damage important structures in his foot and prevent him from returning to work. No information had been released about when he might leave the hospital or begin rehabilitation.
The incident was reported near Daytona Beach Shores, a coastal city in Volusia County. High and his fiancée had traveled to the area for a vacation. Accounts of the incident described them as being in shallow water when the animal struck.
High’s fiancée was not reported injured. His account placed her safety at the center of his response, saying he acted first to move her away from danger before trying to escape himself.
Confirmed unprovoked shark bites remain uncommon worldwide. The Florida Museum of Natural History recorded 65 such incidents in 2025, close to the recent five-year average of 61. Researchers classify encounters after reviewing evidence, and not every initially reported bite is immediately confirmed or assigned to a species.
The shark species involved in High’s encounter remains unknown, and it was not clear whether his foot will suffer lasting damage. He remained focused on healing and returning to work as doctors monitored his recovery.
Author note: Last updated July 27, 2026.