Kelcey Chandler-Yates and Jim Yates present...

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It is a beautiful white puffy cloud day, the water is dead still blue and the children are laughing 100 yards away at the stern of the neighboring boat. Little did I know when I turned to fetch my camera that my view of this day would change radically. Looking back to where the children just swam was our dog Hinano screeching between dunks under the calm water. At first, I could not perceive the situation-until I saw the fin. As my son Chris swam towards her, I knew he would not reach her in time. Not taking into consideration any consequences, I dove in, reaching her first due to the propulsion off the boat. She went under once more but with my kick the shark let go as I lifted her out of the water making my swimming more flailing than pertinent!  Chris having reached me by now would save us from any more attacks-------right?? --  I was counting on it and so was Hinano as she sat still upside down in my hands as we slowly moved to the stern of the boat. Once there I saw the damage and my heart raced almost as fast as the blood spurted from the artery, which was severed in her foot. --- Thankful that is was only her foot I took a deep breath while at the same time pressing on the artery to stop the flow of blood which no doubt would attract more sharks.

Jim and Nicholas were 400 yards from the boat spear fishing so we were helpless on our own boat. The other boats were no responding to my cries for help. Chris jumped into the kayak and went to get his father. We are located literally in the middle of know where and not a vet within 1000 miles. The local hospital has fewer supplies than we do and the doctor is located an hour away across the atoll. Jim, thankfully is perfectly capable of stitching her up and is well equipped but when looking at the ragged cut we realize there is no way to save the function of her foot as all tendons are severed-just saving the foot becomes our mission.

Eight sharks swim about the stern of the boat as he is stitching for the next 3 hours. We talk about what could have happened and shudder. Of all the places we have dove ,swam and seen this one has the most aggressive shark population as well as the most populous. We have not dove nor spear fished very often due to them. After feeling so comfortable with hundreds around us in French Polynesia it is comical that a few small ones should give concern but when we take a gander at poor Hinano's leg we are glad we have been so careful.  Although still very sore she is adapting well.

Hinano while Jim was preparing to sew her up - and - Three weeks later almost as good as new.