"What Jessie responds to the most is his own family and the people he seems to recognize," Patterson said. Natalie reached out to Jamie Summerlin with Operation Welcome Home to help put together a parade for Arbogast. "I couldn't believe what was happening," Vance Flosenzier said. "I told them it was in the shark and they turned the shark over on its side and stuck a retractable baton into its mouth and pried it open and they could see it was still lodged in its throat," Vance said. They are praying for his full recovery. Some have criticized the crew for not taking him to Sacred Heart. Seems like the family was from somewhere around Biloxi. Jessie, a member of the "Greatest Generation," was a proud veteran who served in the Fifth. They thanked a man who caught Jessie when he was freed from the shark's jaws and another who helped them with cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Star Newspapers Limited and/or its licensors. He has bite marks - imprints of the shark's teeth. Financial and moral support has flowed in from around the world. "I told them it was in the shark and they turned the shark over on its side and stuck a retractable baton into its mouth and pried it open," Vance Flosenzier said. He also enjoys boat shows, cars and jets, especially the Blue Angels. For more than 10 minutes, she and others kept up CPR on Jesse, while Vance Flosenzier struggled to pull the shark away from children who were still in the water. "There's not been any question in my mind that he was going to be okay. Jessie Arbogast survived after his arm was reattached in an 11-hour surgery, but he suffered permanent brain damage. Jessie Arbogast has come a long way in the eight years since a shark attack in Florida left him bedridden with a feeding tube. Arbogast, who is 8, was playing in shallow water at about dusk when the hungry shark bit deeply into his thigh and bit off his arm. While he was a generous man, he was always shopping for great bargains and knew where all the best deals were. He would be 28 now. Jessie was the last surviving member of his immediate family and was also preceded in death by his brother and spouse, William Merle and Evelyn Growall Arbogast; and his six sisters and spouses: Myrtle Burkhammer, Elizabeth and husband Charles Francis Burke, Ruth and husband John William Renshaw, Lucille and husband Paul Huff, Virginia and husband John Lopuch and Jessies youngest sister, Anna Lee and husband Hermit G. Floyd. ", The Arbogast family issued a statement thanking people in Pensacola and around the world for their support and prayers and especially thanking the crew of the Baptist Flight helicopter that came to Jessie's aid on the beach "for making the hard choice.". Signs saying "Welcome Home Jessie" and yellow ribbons heralded his return. Trending News The attack on Jessie 15 years ago occurred during a slow news month, the summer before 9/11 gave Americans, and the world, something darker to fear. MHV8-3JK : 19 December 2020), Jesse Arbogast, Pleasant Township, Wabash, Indiana, United . Michael Cohen, Trump's former "fixer," meets with Manhattan investigators It began earlier in July when a bull shark bit off the arm of an 8-year-old boy. Humans are more likely to be killed by lightning or bicycling. Jessie Arbogast Shark Victim Date Of Birth: c. 1993 Place Of Birth: Ocean Springs, Mississippi Best Known As: The boy whose arm was bitten off by a shark 8-year-old Jessie Arbogast was swimming in the ocean near Pensacola, Florida on 6 July 2001 when a 200-pound bull shark bit off his right arm. Private graveside services will be conducted by the Rev. "They very quickly determined that they needed to do a load and go, and they quickly scooped him up and put him on and put him in a position where they could continue the CPR," Vance Flosenzier said. Jessie, a member of the "Greatest Generation," was a. Arbogast was thrilled with the turn out for his parade. 1 Georgia Overwhelms No. July 11, 2001 -- While doctors and family maintain a bedside vigil for Jessie Arbogast, the 8-year-old shark attack victim, scientists are amazed at the circumstances surrounding the . "Although he's not fully recovered, I feel that it's nothing short of a miracle that he has come this far and been able to actually survive," said Dr. Tim Livingston, a pediatric neurologist at Sacred Heart. Legal Statement. "If he continues that way, it might take years, but he could have a very good recovery," Vance said. Vance and Diana Flosenzier, Jessie's aunt and uncle, were about to call the children in for dinner when one of them shouted "Shark!" Vance and Diana ran to the beach and saw a cloud of blood in the water. Jessie David Arbogast Medical Fundc/o Hancock Bank901 Washington Ave.Ocean Springs, MS 39566{228} 872-6983. And hopefully as Jesse progresses, the family will heal, too.". To order copies of "WhenI got there,I realized it was Jessie, and the shark had him by the arm. ", From the Pensacola News Journal: "Jessie Arbogast's eyes and movements are full of meaning. "It has been a bittersweet homecoming because, although we are very happy at the progress Jessie has made, we do not yet know how fully he will recover," the Flosenziers wrote. He and the rest of the country forgot about sharks for a while. Patterson said Jessie responds by opening his eyes and appearing to gain a higher level of alertness, but he added "there's no purposeful communication.". He has ougrown his chair. I didnt get another call from the media until the end of December, he says. The scars haven't gone away, either. Last year, there were 79 shark attacks worldwide, 51 of them in the United States and 34 in Florida. The relatives expressed thanks to others who came to the aid of their nephew, whose arm was ripped off in a July 6 Florida shark attack. Arbogast. Arbogast. The Arbogasts, though, were just beginning a long, slow recovery with Jessie. "We're cautiously optimistic," Diana said. 1 In D1 Baseball Preseason Poll, LSU RB John Emery Jr. Copyright @2023 TigerDroppings.com. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Facebook gives people the power to share and makes the world more open and connected. The open letter from Diana and Vance Flosenzier of Mobile, Ala., was published in Tuesday editions of the Pensacola News Journal. Copyright 1998-2022 by Who2, LLC. "We would get mail addressed to 'The Mississippi boy who got bit by a shark,' and the post office knew where to deliver it," his mother said. The boy's right arm was ripped off by a 6-foot long bull shark while he was wading in knee-deep water off Langdon Beach in the Gulf Islands National Seashore on July 6. Market data provided by Factset. "It was just like a nightmare at that point.". Emotional children greeted the 8-year-old boy as he arrived in an. P.W. MORGANTOWN, W.Va (WDTV) - The Morgantown community came together to celebrate Jesse Arbogasts 99th birthday. Market data provided by Factset. "Jessie is still not able to move very much or communicate, and he requires constant care.". Hearing the children scream, the boys uncle ran into the bloody water, grabbed the shark by the tail and played tug of war to rescue his nephew from its grip. He stayed there until Aug. 12, when he was sent home, still in a light coma caused by the extreme blood loss. The aunt and uncle live an hour from Jesse and his family's home in Ocean Springs, Miss, and they visit him each week. After the attack, Jessie got loads of mail. The shark stories absolutely halted.. The aunt and uncle of shark attack victim Jessie Arbogast described the 8-year-old's homecoming as "bittersweet." The relatives expressed thanks to others who came to the aid of their nephew,. Copyright 2020 WDTV. A 2004 article in the Pensacola News-Journal reported that Arbogast was using a wheelchair and had trouble communicating, but was growing like a weed. An update on his condition in 2009 indicated he was permanently disabled in the attack, but getting along fine with the help of his parents. Vance grabbed onto the shark as Diana and others pulled Jessie to shore. Circumstance contributed to the shark hype hysteria first spurred by the release of Jaws in 1975 and kept alive by the Discovery Channels hugely popular Shark Week. Young whale of endangered species "likely to die" after entanglement But Jessiestill had a very long road to recovery ahead. Actually, a few updates, from 2003 to 2009, Snopes explains a viral email that was a by-product of the event, The boy whose arm was bitten off by a shark, Princess Stephanie of Monaco frowns a bit, Gina Lollobrigida dressed as a gypsy, a peasant, or both. Hospital officials said he will continue outpatient. It's been difficult for all of them, there's no doubt about that. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. And all of that is stuff that he couldn't do six months ago," Diana said. Legal Statement. He emerged slowly from a coma.unable to speak and still struggles with severe physical impairments today. "When he survived the first night,I knew he was going to make it," Diana said. "Probably within a minute or two,he stopped breathing altogether," Diana Flosenzier said. It may be a year before we know.". "And within just a couple of minutes of landing they were back in the air, taking him toward Baptist Hospital.". When Bishop Thomas J. Rodi of Biloxi, Miss., visited Jessie Arbogast in the hospital July 14, he blessed the 8-year-old with a relic of Blessed Francis Xavier. The Gulf waves were mild, no higher than a foot and a half. He interacts with his brothers and sisters with a smile and a laugh. "His dad has not gone back to work," Diana said. All rights reserved. 07/01/2003 in Health, Kids, Slice o' Life | Permalink, When They Broadcast 'I Love Lucy" in Spanish . The boy is still in a light coma and doctors said only time will tell how extensive his brain injury has become. "Some meats are run through a processor but he is not on a tube any more," his aunt said. Young shark attack survivor Jessie Arbogast has returned home from a Pensacola, Fla., hospital to finish his recovery. "I heard a scream andI turned to the water andI saw a pool of bloodwhere the three boys were.". The boy's arm was reattached by surgeons. presentation-ready copies of Toronto Star content for distribution He continues to undergo physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to get the latest updates on LSU Football and Recruiting. She was a sports editor for the Daily Trojan and a sports correspondent for the Associated Press Los Angeles bureau - a background she credits for her ease in front of news cameras. display: block; "Isure didn't want to let it go, and it seemed that ifI held its tail up out of the water, it didn't have a lot of power," Vance said. He is not able to talk, but his family believes he understands much of what they say to him. By ABC News. His wife said neither of them thought much about placing themselves in harm's way. The aunt and uncle of shark attack victim Jessie Arbogast described the 8-year-old's homecoming as "bittersweet.". Stoney Cottrell of the Christian Life Center at 11 a.m. Monday, Feb. 15. Arbogast was airlifted to the hospital, and doctors reattached the arm during 11 hours of surgery. Jessie can't speak because of brain damage from major blood loss. or redistributed. Still, the rescuers were in a state of shock. "There is certainly potential for further recovery, but we just don't know how long that may take or how far he can progress. He can. Vance Flosenzier, the uncle, spoke to ABCNEWS' Good Morning America, describing publicly for the first time how he rescued his nephew just over one year ago on an ocean beach near Pensacola, Fla. } He sits up in his wheelchair and participates in his life. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. All rights reserved. "It's been difficult for all of them, there's no doubt about that. He and his wife were getting ready to call their own children and their niece and nephew to the shore for supper. The boy's arm had been severed and he was bleeding profusely. "Hundreds of people have donated blood. The Embrace: A Visit to the New Martin Luther (and Coretta!) Please enter valid email address to continue. "I mean it had Jesse's arm and it was rolling, like you see [sharks] on a video clip, where they are engaged in trying to tear their prey apart. Only Jessie's pale face was visible beneath a blue plastic tarp that shielded him from rain as ambulance personnel took him through his front door. After starting work for Ford Motor Company in 1954, Jessie never bought a car that was not a Ford product. One man's leg was amputated, and another man suffered a serious leg injury. On July 6, 2002, 8-year-old Jessie Arbogast was playing with his sister and cousins in shallow water in Pensacola, Florida. "We have learned firsthand from this experience that there are far, far more good people than bad in this world.". After the ranger pried the shark's jaw open with a police baton, a volunteer firefighter used a clamp to pull the boy's severed arm out of its gullet. However, the 11-year-old is still in a wheelchair and lacks the ability to communicate. "Although he's not fully recovered, I feel that it's nothing short of a miracle that he has come this far and been able to actually survive," said Dr. Tim Livingston, a pediatric neurologist at Sacred Heart Children's Hospital in Pensacola. The Family would like to extend its grateful appreciation to Jessies aides who gave their love and care to him over the past five years: Pat Taylor, LPN, for her expertise and companionship, Natalie Moore for including Jessie as a member of her family, he loved her three children, and Donna Huey for funcar trips, ice cream andlollipops. "There are no words or ways to express our thanks to the doctors, nurses and staff at both Baptist Hospital and Sacred Heart Children's Hospital, except to say we are eternally grateful.". He continues to undergo physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy. Only Jessie's pale face was visible beneath a blue plastic tarp that shielded him from rain as ambulance personnel took him through his front door. From personal experience, it can be quite a rough go, so why not consider a donation? Find your friends on Facebook. On the evening of July 6, 2001, 8-year-old Jessie Arbogast was swimming with his siblings and cousins in shallow water on Floridas northwestern coast when a bull shark sank its teeth into his arm. "It appears he has suffered some brain injury because of the massive blood loss incurred during the shark attack," Livingston said. Vance and Diana Flosenzierlive an hour from Jessie and his family, and they visit them each week. "They could see it was still lodged in its throat.". "We also wish to thank the many people at the beach whose quick thinking and actions helped to save Jessie," the family said in its statement. "I realized, 'I know what to do, I've got to breathe for him, there's nothing else to do.' The stories inside were measured, careful to underscore the rarity of a shark attack, but the cover packed a punch, declaring in bold print that this was the Summer of the Shark.. Main I believe he had his arm reattached but with the blood loss and trauma I don't think he was ever the same. Some have criticized the crew for not taking him to Sacred Heart. Family members are still hopeful of some reasonable recovery and feel his reception is OK but vocal expression is difficult. Log in or sign up for Facebook to connect with friends, family and people you know. He told reporters that there had been no more shark attacks than usual. expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Toronto He went home and watched the TV coverage. The limb was removed from the shark's gullet after the uncle wrestled the beast ashore and then reattached at Baptist Hospital. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. That morning, Burgess arrived at work and did four or five interviews before the first plane hit the World Trade Center and his phone stopped ringing. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Interment will take place in East Oak Cemetery, Morgantown, with military honors and a Masonic service. To save two crucial minutes of flying time, the crew took Jessie to Baptist Hospital, where he was revived and his arm reattached, instead of Sacred Heart, which has a pediatric intensive care unit. The December call, Burgess says, was from a New York Times reporter looking to write a retrospective piece on what had, by then, become accepted wisdom: the hysteria around the so-called Summer of the Shark was completely unwarranted. "Our biggest challenge now is how to help him get it out.". 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. "As our family moves ahead into the next phase of Jessie's recovery, we feel it is important to express our enduring gratitude to the many people who reached out to help," the Flosenziers wrote. 2001 The Associated Press. Vance and Diana Flosenzier raced toward where their children, their niece and their nephew, Jessie, had been wading in shallow water. "I sure didn't want to let it go. Market data provided by Factset. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. "We do want people to know how he's doing, because people have been wonderful," she said. He served as a member of numerous teams performing graveside ceremonies for his Masonic brothers. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. , From Sacred Heart Health System: "Jessie's family says he continues to make slow progress in his rehabilitation from a brain injury and other injuries suffered in the shark attack. And surfers were bitten by swarming sharks in Daytona Beach, Fla., last weekend. They praised the calm and professionalism of National Park Service rangers, quick action by a BaptistFlight helicopter crew and the skill of medical personnel at the two hospitals. 3-D Brain Anatomy | He can't walk, and he can't make his arms do what he wants them to. Jessie has made dramatic recovery from the shark bites and no longer needs medication, including for pain, although he still must be fed through a tube, said Dr. "Jessie is eating well and growing like a weed. Rob Patterson, a pediatric intensive care specialist. She and her husband, David, have two other sons and a daughter, and there's also a large extended family. The boy was not breathing. He is survived by his four children and spouses: his daughters, Jeanne Grimm and husband Harper G. Grimm Jr., of Morgantown, Judy Harris and husband David K. Harris, of Houston, and his sons, Robert W. Arbogast, of Mannington, and Richard L. Arbogast and wife Debra, of Bradenton, Fla. Surgeons later reattached the boy's arm. Vance Flosenzier grabbed onto the shark and wrestled the animal barehanded out of the water. He was born on Dec. 12, 1921, in Circleville, the seventh child of the late Fannie Lillian Nicholas Arbogast and the Rev. Jessie was transferred two days later. You know, right beforeI seized its tail, that's whatI saw.". All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. OCEAN SPRINGS, Miss. Editor's Note: Donations can be made to The Jessie Arbogast Medical Fund, account number 012428229, c/o Hancock Bank, P.O. All rights reserved. 39566. The boy's kidneys have since improved and he no longer needs dialysis. would be nearly impossible for anyone in the USA not to have heard about Jessie Arbogast, the 8-year-old boy who was mauled by a 7-foot bull shark on 6 July 2001 while wading in knee-deep water. King Statue on the Boston Common, Pel, a Pope, and Barbara Walters: Last-Minute Deaths of 2022, Charles Schulzs 100th Birthday: A Salute from the Funny Pages. Last year, there were 79 shark attacks worldwide, 51 of them in the United States and 34 in Florida. "They are also struggling to get Jessie a larger wheel chair. Posted on 7/7/21 at 9:47 am 0 2 Of course that in and of itself is horrible. Jessie Arbogast survived after his arm was reattached in an 11-hour surgery, but he suffered permanent brain damage.In Virginia, a 10-year-old boy was killed while surfing with his family. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest. That's good to get him out of a limited position.". display: none; "We were getting ready to go to supper and about to gather them out of the water whenI heard my son yell 'shark,'" says Vance Flosenzier, the uncle of Jessie Arbogast. Burgess, a scientist who has devoted his life to shark research, fielded 30 to 50 calls from reporters every day that summer. Arbogasts uncle, Vance Flosenzier, wrestled the shark out of the water; a park ranger shot the shark and Arbogasts arm was pulled from the sharks gullet. He took great pleasure in taking photos and always carried a camera with him to meetings in case someone needed a photo. Returning For The 2023 Season, Walker Howard Says Goodbye To LSU With Message On Social Media, After Seeing These 3rd Graders B-Ball Celebrations, Safe To Say They Watch A LOT Of NBA, Usain Bolt Lost Nearly $10 Million In Massive Fraud Case At Jamaican Investment Company, Raiders Fan Crashes Through Awning At Allegiant Stadium, Greg McElroy 'Concerned' About One SEC Football Program, Alabama DC Pete Golding Leaving Tide For Ole Miss DC Job, Five SEC Teams Included In ESPN Way-Too-Early College Football Top 25 For 2023, 2024 College Football Playoff Championship Early Odds, No. There were others who joined in the CPR effort, comforted five other children the couple also had taken to the beach, called 911 and handed Vance Flosenzier a cell phone so he could provide vital details of Jessie's injuries to a dispatcher. He is now 16 with a mustache and lively blue eyes. I mean, it had Jessie's arm and it was rolling , like, you know, you see them on a video clip, where they were engaged in trying to tear their prey apart. ", Aunt & Uncle Of Jessie Arbogast Speak Out On Good Morning America, One dead, one in critical condition after Biloxi shooting, Margaritaville officials hold job fair to fill in positions for Paradise Pier, Reality TV stars Todd and Julie Chrisley report to prison, Woman accused of stabbing boyfriend for urinating in their bed after a night of drinking, South Mississippi Mental Health Resources. "You just had to react.". Times July 30 cover featured a great white shark, its snout protruding menacingly from the water and its jaws wide open. MMI The Associated Press. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. ", He now eats the same meals as the rest of the family (two brothers and a sister). July 9, 2002 -- It has been one year since Jesse Arbogast, then 8, was mauled by a shark, and the uncle who rescued him is still haunted by the attack. "I don't think it was just curiosity. The boy had no pulse and no blood pressure when he was airlifted to Baptist Hospital about 30 minutes after the attack. His right arm is scarred between his elbow and shoulder where it was reattached. Arbogast was released from the hospital on 12 August 2001 and readmitted for brief stays later in the year. He was a Mason and for many years attended both the Harold Summers and No. If his progress continues, it might take years, but he could have a very good chance of recovery, Vance Flosenzier said. As a helicopter airlifted Jessie to hospital, a park service ranger pulled the boys arm from the sharks mouth, packed it on ice and sent it after the medical team. re: Anyone remember the boy,Jessie Arbogast,who was bitten by a shark in Pensacola 20 yrs ago? The episode became immediate international news and kicked off what Time magazine would dub the Summer of the Shark.. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. "I couldn't believe what was happening," Vance said. Toronto Star articles, please go to: www.TorontoStarReprints.com, Aug. 28, 2001: Beachgoers in Florida walk past a warning sign prompted by a rash of shark attacks some fatal along the U.S. coastline. "What Jessie responds to the most is his own family and the people he eems to recognize," Patterson said. Jessie Arbogast The boy's right arm was ripped off by a 6-foot long bull shark in the waters off Langdon Beach in the Gulf Islands National Seashore on July 6. "When he survived the first night, I knew he was going to make it," Diana Flosenzier said. . It lit the fire, says George Burgess, director of shark research and the International Shark Attack File at the Florida Museum of Natural History. Published: Dec. 12, 2020 at 5:57 PM PST MORGANTOWN, W.Va (WDTV) - The Morgantown community came together to celebrate Jesse Arbogast's 99th birthday. Doctors believe being at home may help his recovery. I think they cared.". P.W. And he can't get enough of superheroes like X-Men and Spider-Man. And it seemed that if I held its tail up out of the water, it didn't have a lot of power," Vance Flosenzier said. Jessie Arbogast is on Facebook. But Jessie still had a very long road to recovery ahead. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Thousands of people have prayed and continue to pray. Diana Flosenzier and others pulled Jesse to the shore. Jessie Warden Arbogast, 99, of Morgantown, passed away on February 11, 2021. I believe he had his arm reattached but with the blood loss and trauma I don't think he was ever the same. "David places him on a blown-up mattress. All So I laid him down and started doing rescue breathing.". 8-year-old Jessie Arbogast was swimming in the ocean near Pensacola, Florida on 6 July 2001 when a 200-pound bull shark bit off his right arm. And while you're at it, why not pass on this message to others? In 2001 it was a bull shark that infamously attacked 8-year-old Jessie Arbogast at Gulf Islands National Seashore in Santa Rosa County and bit off his right arm. ", David Arbogast gave up his job as a tile setter three years ago and became Jessie's full-time caregiver. Helicopter crash near Ukraine kindergarten kills kids and top officials, California faces dangerous mudslides after monster storms, Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene, Paul Gosar and George Santos get House committee seats, Qantas plane lands safely on single engine after mayday call over Pacific, New Mexico lawmaker says shootings suspect confronted her outside her home, Gov. "We have received letters and visits from many supporters, some of whom are survivors of terrible accidents and illnesses themselves," the Flosenziers wrote. "When I got there I realized it was Jesse, and the shark had him by the arm," Vance Flosenzier said. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, Jessie's uncle wrestled the shark to shore after the attack and a ranger shot the shark four times with a 9 mm pistol. He was eaten in another shark attack 6-7 years ago. Arbogast's uncle pulled the 7 . He can communicate, and he can move his uninjured arm with purpose to pick up objects, not real well, but he can do that. Published Jul. UPDATE: From the Associated Press in 2004: But today, the child is defying the odds and "growing like a weed." SoI laid him down and started doing rescue breathing.". At dusk, two days after the fourth of July, Jessie Arbogast was having a Kodak moment on the beach in Pensacola, Fla. Compare DNA and explore genealogy for Jessie Arbogast born 1815 Virginia, United States died 1874 Walnut Grove Township, McDonough, Illinois, United States including ancestors + descendants + DNA connections + more in the free family tree community. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. A Celebration of Life will be held in the future.Condolences:www.McCulla.com. To order . Jessie has made dramatic recovery from the shark bites and no longer needs medication, including for pain, although he still must be fed through a tube, said Dr. Neither man has been identified. to colleagues, clients or customers, or inquire about Update on Jessie Arbogast: From Sacred Heart Health System: "Jessie's family says he continues to make slow progress in his rehabilitation from a brain injury and other injuries suffered in the shark attack. Two Americans were attacked this month in the Bahamas. And within just a couple of minutes of landing they were back in the air, taking him toward baptist hospital," Vance said. His body still has bite marks - imprints of the shark's teeth. Child remains found in Oklahoma amid search for missing 4-year-old The Associated Press contributed to this report. In interviews for television, radio, newspapers and magazines, he tried to spread the measured message that shark attacks are incredibly uncommon and fatalities worldwide are rare. And hopefully as Jessie progresses, the family will heal, too.". Jessie, also bitten severely on the right thigh, was transferred to Pensacola's Sacred Heart Children's Hospital a couple of days later. He was born on Dec. 12, 1921, in Circleville, the seventh child of the late Fannie Lillian Nicholas Arbogast and the Rev. Family members have declined interview requests and in the statement urged the news media to respect their privacy. Legal Statement. } "You just had to do," she said. "We also wish to thank the many people at the beach whose quick thinking and actions helped to save Jessie," the family said in its statement. ABCNEWS' Erin Hayes reported this story for Good Morning America. And for the most part, he's happy. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his beloved wife of more than 74 years, Virgie Mae Horner Arbogast, in 2016; his youngest son, James David Arbogast, in 2003; and his great-grandson, Tyler Keenan Ritson, in 2002. The uncle dragged the 90-kilogram shark straight out of the sea as others carried Jessie to shore. Jessie Warden Arbogast, 99, passed away on Feb. 11, 2021. "His dad has not gone back to work," Diana Flosenzier said. All rights reserved. "He takes it all in," Claire said. 3 TCU To Win Back-To-Back National Championships, Report: Texas A&M Hiring Bobby Petrino As Aggies New Offensive Coordinator, Watching Bojana Jovanovic's Tennis Serve Is Beautiful, Bob Stoops Predicts When Nick Saban Will Retire, Former LSU CB Damarius McGhee Announces Transfer Destination. rights reserved. Now, after years of guarding the family's privacy, she thinks it's time to let the world see Jessie. His uncle, Vance Flosenzier, rushed into the water. "Probably within a minute or two he stopped breathing altogether," she said. A Presidential Scholar and National Merit Scholar at USC, she developed her own three-part major as an undergraduate: biology, exercise physiology and journalism. Join Facebook to connect with Jessie Arbogast and others you may know. Jesse's uncle jumped into the sea and dragged the boy to shore. He is now 16 with a mustache and lively blue . This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, Our son Ryan was the same age when he sufferred the same time of brain injury. Arbogast's uncle, Vance Flosenzier, wrestled the shark out of the water; a park ranger shot the shark and Arbogast's arm was pulled from the shark's gullet. Community rallies to celebrate Iwo Jima veterans 99th birthday, Webster County vs Gilmer County girl's basketball highlights, Bridge Sports Complex Athlete of the Week - Sydney Baird, Fairmont Sr vs North Marion Wrestling - 1-17, Closed Captioning/Audio Description Complaints. "Jessie is speaking clearer words but no sentences," said his aunt, Diana Flosenzier of Hattiesburg. The loss of nearly all his blood harmed virtually every organ in his body. " Flosenzier said. "They said it was just over seven feet. It may be a year before we know.". All rights reserved. "They very quickly determined that they needed to do a load and go, and they quickly scooped him up and put him on and put him in a position where they could continue the CPR. He chuckles at jokes, hollers in greeting and sometimes tugs - mischievously - at his sister's hair. And you know, that's kind of a haunting image to think back on becauseI saw that asI was running up to it. "I heard a scream, turned to the water and saw a pool of blood where the three boys were.". : The Jessie David Arbogast Medical FundAccount number: 012428229c/o Hancock BankP.O. The uncle of Jessie Arbogast recalled a pool of blood and his nephew's screams in his account of a horrific July 6 shark attack in Pensacola, Florida, in a National Park Service report released . Earlier this month, a New York man celebrating his wedding anniversary in the Bahamas had part of his left leg amputated after being attacked by a shark. Jessie's parents, David and Claire Arbogast, did not wish to be interviewed about the shark attack and challenging recovery efforts of the past three years. Shark attack victim's family clings to dream of recovery. Days later and nearby, a28-year-old Russian tourist was killed and his 22-year-old fiance was critically injured after they were attacked by a shark. It brings me back to a summer not too long ago, when an 8-year-old boy from Ocean Springs was enjoying a Fourth of July holiday weekend with his family at a beach near Pensacola, Florida. It was truly the kind of story that they turn into movies. His aunt and uncle are cautiously optimistic, but realize that recovery won't be easy. "It's a full time job, caring for Jessie. Republication or distribution of this content is "At this point, they are seeking medical direction about future treatment and therapy," said Flosenzier. He's partial to blondes on TV. To save two crucial minutes of flying time, the crew took Jessie to Baptist Hospital, where he was revived and his arm reattached, instead of Sacred Heart, which has a pediatric intensive care unit. Join Facebook to connect with Jessi Arbogast and others you may know. Vance Flosenzier, the uncle, spoke to ABCNEWS' Good Morning America, describing publicly for the first time how he rescued his nephew just over one year ago on an ocean beach near Pensacola, Fla. July 9, 2002 -- It has been one year since Jesse Arbogast, then 8, was mauled by a shark, and the uncle who rescued him is still haunted by the attack. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. He sits up in his wheelchair. "He still doesn't speak. Jessie was a faithful member of Methodist churches for his entire life. "AsI was doing CPR,I could see Vance coming out of the water with the shark, holding it up, and allI could think was good, he didn't let it go, becauseI knew the girls were still out there," Diana said. On the day of the attack, Jesse's relatives and bystanders thought fast. 4 AF & AM Lodges in Morgantown. And every subsequent sighting of sharks, or anything that had to do with sharks, became a story.. OCEAN SPRINGS - Jessie Arbogast has come a long way in the eight years since a shark attack in Florida left him bedridden with a feeding tube. "There is certainly potential for further recovery, but we just don't know how long that may take or how far he can progress. Drawer 609, Ocean Springs, Miss. Claire recently talked for the first time about what it has been like since the July 6, 2001, attack thrust her family into the national spotlight. "You just had to do,you just had to react," Diana said. TIL In 2001, 8-year-old Jessie Arbogast was attacked by a 7-foot-long bull shark that tore off his arm, his uncle hearing the commotion grabbed the shark out of the ocean and onto shore all the while when the shark still held the Child's dismembered arm. He's is in his second year of high school, going almost a full day in special education classes with his mother by his side. Jessie was transferred two days later. Jessie, a member of the Greatest Generation, was a proud veteran who served in the Fifth Marine Division during World War II and participated in the amphibious assault on Iwo Jima. He's got a mustache and lively blue eyes. #inline-recirc-item--id-92536002-8c88-11e2-b06b-024c619f5c3d ~ .item:nth-child(5) { The shark also tore a large chunk of muscle from the boy's right thigh. "There's not been any question in my mind, that he was going to be OK. That remains to be seen, I mean the story's not over for us, but I guess I still feel that way.". The prognosis for his long-term recovery is uncertain. }, First published on August 13, 2001 / 9:35 AM. 8-year-old Jessie Arbogast was swimming in the ocean near Pensacola, Florida on 6 July 2001 when a 200-pound bull shark bit off his right arm. "One new activity provides Jessie some opportunity to maneuver," she said. Doctors released Jessie from Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola, where he was transferred after doctors at another facility reattached his arm. Patterson said Jessie responds by opening his eyes and appearing to gain a higher level of alertness, but he added, "there's no purposeful communication. Arbogast's uncle, Vance Flosenzier, wrestled the shark onto. The uncle of Jessie Arbogast recalled a pool of blood and his nephew's screams in his account of a horrific July 6 shark attack in Pensacola, Florida, in a National Park Service report released . I just couldn't really believe that such a terrible thing was happening.". At 16, Jessie wakes up almost each morning with a smile and interest in what's going on around him, said his mother, Claire Arbogast, his constant companion. The sensational story of Jessie Arbogast the boy who barely survived a shark attack was, for the public and media, an irresistible tale of rescue and survival. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. On the beach, Diana Flosenzier administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation to keep her nephew alive. Children laughed and cried with joy Sunday in Ocean Springs, Miss., as an ambulance containing the boy still in a light coma arrived at the family home after a two-hour drive from Sacred Heart Children's Hospital in Pensacola. Jessie W. Arbogast, 99, passed away Thursday, Feb. 11, 2021, at Madison Rehab Center. Arbogast. . "It appears he has suffered some brain injury because of the massive blood loss incurred during the shark attack," Livingston said. Legal Statement. Market data provided by Factset. That summer, the public appetite for shark stories was strong and the media delivered. It requires hours of therapy, with Jesse learning to walk again, and hoping to talk again. All Rights Reserved. He smiles, they say, each time they come to the door. "We were getting ready to go to supper, and about to gather them out of the water when I heard my son yell 'shark!' In Virginia, a 10-year-old boy was killed while surfing with his family.. He emerged slowly from a coma, but today is still unable to speak and struggles with severe physical impairments. He emerged slowly from a coma.unable to speak and still struggles with severe physical impairments today. Rob Patterson, a pediatric intensive care specialist. Who2 does not collect any personal information. This copy is for your personal non-commercial use only. "He still doesn't speak. Facebook gives people the power. Shark fears have been heightened by other attacks this summer. For more than10 minutes, she and others would keep upCPR while Vance struggled to pull the shark away from children still in the water. All Rights Reserved. . This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed Vance and Diana Flosenzier raced toward the shoreline, where the children had been wading in shallow ocean surf. The sharks co-operated by offering up a few particularly gruesome attacks. Arbogast is one of the few veterans still living that fought in Iwo Jima. The Ocean Springs, Miss., boy was freed after the arm was bitten off. | When They Broadcast 'I Love Lucy" in Spanish . The number of people killed in shark attacks also dropped to five in 2001, from 12 the year before. When a shark bit off his arm and crunched through his thigh, Jessie Arbogast's chances of . or redistributed. Surgeons were able to reattach the arm, but Jesse still had a very long road to recovery ahead. The shark reportedly was nearly 7 feet long, but her husband said he didn't give the size much thought. permissions/licensing, please go to: www.TorontoStarReprints.com. Newspapers Limited, 8 Spadina Avenue, 10th Floor, Toronto, ON M5V 0S8. All of that is stuff that he couldn't do six months ago.". His sister and the other girls had ventured out much farther, but Jessie, 8, his brothers and some cousins stayed 15 ft. from shore, crouched in the shallow surf. Tampa Bay Bucs Provide Injury Update On Former LSU WR Russell Gage, LSU Ranked No. "There are no words or ways to express our thanks to the doctors, nurses and staff at both Baptist Hospital and Sacred Heart Children's Hospital, except to say we are eternally grateful.". "As I was doing CPR, I could see Vance coming out of the water with the shark, holding it up, and all I could think was 'Good, he didn't let it go,' because I knew the girls were still out there," Diana Flosenzier said. There wasn't time to think about it.". 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