Stuart, FL — Local surfer and fishing charter operator Cole Taschman, 28, is recovering at home after a frightening encounter with a shark while surfing at Martin County’s Bathtub Beach in Stuart. This is the second time Taschman has survived a shark bite at the same beach, his first occurring over a decade ago in 2013.
On Friday, October 25, Taschman was paddling through the waters of Bathtub Beach with friends when he felt a sudden, excruciating bite. According to Taschman, an estimated eight-foot shark, likely a bull or tiger, bit both of his feet. “I was paddling just regular, not even trying to catch a wave or anything, and then this shark just came up behind me,” he said. “It got both of my feet with one bite.” He recalled looking back to see the shark’s silhouette before the quick attack subsided.
The entire incident lasted about 15 seconds, but it was enough to leave Taschman with severe injuries. The bite tore three tendons in his feet, partially severed another, and required 93 stitches and numerous staples. His friends, who witnessed the attack from a short distance, immediately rushed to help him back to shore. Hunter Roland and Zach Bucolo, Taschman’s friends and longtime surfing partners, saw the disturbance in the water and paddled towards him. “He came up behind me… I just screamed at Hunter and Zach, and they were already paddling towards me as they saw the thrashing,” Taschman said.
Saved by Friends
Once Taschman reached the shore, his friends acted swiftly. They used surfboard leashes as tourniquets to control the bleeding and then rushed him to Cleveland Clinic Martin North Hospital. From there, he was transferred to St. Mary’s Medical Center in West Palm Beach, where surgeons performed two operations on his injured feet. Taschman was released from the hospital on Monday and is now recovering at home, relying on a wheelchair for mobility.
Friend and witness Zach Bucolo, who has surfed with Taschman for years, described the moments following the attack. “When I got up to him by the beach, he really just seemed in shock,” Bucolo said. “He said that he was fine, but needed to go to the hospital.” With first-aid and CPR training, Bucolo used his skills to stabilize Taschman’s injuries before driving him to the hospital. “I had some experience in that aspect,” he said, “and just kind of wanted to use the tools that I knew could help at least prevent the injury from becoming a lot worse.”
“I actually almost passed out in the car,” he shared, describing how his girlfriend, Ana Peci, and friend Bucolo did everything they could to keep him alert. “Zach was pouring water on my head, and Ana was smacking me in the face trying to keep me awake.”
It Wasn’t the First Time
This recent incident mirrors a similar event from 2013, when a 16-year-old Taschman was bitten by a smaller blacktip reef shark while surfing in the same spot. “Same beach, same exact rock, same place, same reef, same everything,” Taschman noted, drawing eerie parallels between the two encounters. However, this time the injuries were far more severe. Reflecting on the difference, Taschman remarked, “The first one was a tiny little reef pup. It’s like comparing an Olympic athlete to a high school athlete, the amount of trauma this time was just so much worse.”
According to an article published by Forbes, Martin County ranks 8th in the country for shark attacks, with 41 previous attacks reported.
In the wake of the incident, a GoFundMe campaign has been launched by Peci to help cover Taschman’s medical expenses, as he does not have health insurance. The funds will also support him as he takes time off from his fishing charter business to recover. Peci described the attack’s severity in the campaign, noting, “The shark bit down on both his feet at once. He suffered from tendon damage and sustained deep wounds, almost losing both his feet.” Alongside the GoFundMe effort, Ohana Surf Shop in Stuart is raffling off a surfboard or a fishing charter trip, with all proceeds benefiting Taschman’s recovery fund.
Despite the harrowing experience, Taschman is grateful for his friends’ swift actions and encourages other surfers not to venture out alone. “Keep your friends close to you,” he advised. “You never know what could happen.”
This latest incident brings renewed attention to Florida’s reputation as a hotspot for shark encounters, especially along its east coast. While New Smyrna Beach, located about 150 miles north of Stuart, is known as the “shark bite capital of the world,” Taschman’s two incidents at Bathtub Beach underscore that encounters can happen in any of the state’s coastal areas.
While recovery could take months, Taschman remains hopeful and resilient. “I’m doing good in recovery, just taking it day by day,” he said. Still bound to a wheelchair, he has yet to confirm if another surgery will be necessary.
