On December 8, Matteo Mariotti was snorkeling off the coast of Queensland, Australia when he was attacked by a shark. After seeing how severe the injuries from the shark attack were, he was convinced that he wasn’t going to survive. So he began recording a goodbye video for his friends and family.
βI started this video a few moments after the last bite,” the 20-year-old wrote on Instagram after the attack. “I wanted to say goodbye, I never thought Iβd survive that monster. Lost so much blood and my leg, I don’t know if they’re going to cut it all off or if it’s going to be left in half but it doesn’t matter now.”
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Mariotti, an Italian student studying marine biology in Australia, was at 1770 Beach when the attack occurred. He was bitten on both legs, and at some point one of his swim fins got stuck in the shark’s mouth. Mariotti believes that was a stroke of luck in an incredibly unlucky situation.
When Mariotti made it to the beach, paramedics were shocked at how bad his wounds were. Martin Kelly, senior operations supervisor with the Queensland Ambulance Service told NBC News that Marietta’s right leg in particular was βone of the most serious injuries I have ever seen… When you get this type of injury that severe, often people do pass away.β
Mariotti, though, did not pass away. In order to save his life, doctors amputated his right leg below the knee. According to reports, as of this writing, he is recovering and in stable condition.
