Radiologist's 'crucial' actions help save teen's life following shark attack

A radiologist was among many good Samaritans who helped prevent terrifying shark attacks last weekend along Florida's 30A Beach from becoming deadly.

Mohammad Ali, MD, an interventional radiologist who practices in Mississippi, was among those who helped one of the teenage victims, Lulu Gribbin. Lulu was wading in waist-deep water at the time of the attack.

She and her friend were both bitten by the shark at the same time in the same area while searching for sand dollars at the first sandbar. According to Gribbin's mother, after seeing the attack, a man ran into the bloody water to get Lulu and her friend.

He and a young boy brought the girls ashore, where other providers provided assistance. Lulu's left hand was bitten and she suffered serious injuries to her right leg, while her friend suffered flesh wounds.

“Once on shore, there were two doctors and two other young women, including a nurse, surrounding Lulu,” Gribbin wrote on Facebook. “These individuals applied tourniquets to Lulu’s wounds, which I believe was crucial in saving Lulu’s life.”

Ali, who practices at Baptist Medical Center in Jackson, Mississippi, was responsible for applying the tourniquet to Lulu's extremities.

“Dr. Mohammad Ali, an interventional radiologist with Baptist Medical Group – Interventional Radiology, and another doctor were bodyboarding with their family and noticed commotion and blood in the water not far from them,” a message from the center said Baptist Medical. “After pulling their own family out of the water, the two doctors rushed to help. Dr. Ali noticed the severity of the injuries and applied a tourniquet to his upper leg and hand, while the other doctor and emergency personnel also helped him.

Lulu was flown to Sacred Heart in Pensacola, Florida, where she underwent emergency surgery. Doctors had to amputate her right leg above the knee and she is expected to undergo several surgeries on her left arm and right leg in the coming weeks.

Her mother says Lulu lost two-thirds of her blood when she arrived at the hospital. Despite this, Lulu is now in a stable condition, is awake, talking and has been able to share her account of what happened. Her mother says the first thing Lulu said when she regained consciousness was, “I did it. »

Lulu's mother credits Ali and others who stepped in to help her after the attack.

“I am forever grateful to the three surgeons and all the nurses and doctors at this hospital who saved Lulu. I am grateful to the doctors and nurses on the beach that day. I am grateful to the paramedics on the beach and the crew in the air. I'm grateful to the person who pulled her out of the water.

Lulu was one of three people attacked along Beach 30A in just 90 minutes. Although their injuries were significant, each of the victims is now in stable condition and expected to recover.