Fifteen-year-old Lulu Gribbin’s life changed forever during a family vacation to Florida’s Seacrest Beach in June 2024 when a shark attacked her while she and her twin sister Ellie were collecting sand dollars. The attack was sudden and terrifying: Lulu saw a shadow in the water but never caught sight of the shark’s fin or eyes.
Her last memory before the attack was of a fleeting shadow beneath the water as she swam with her sister. Seconds later, she felt a searing pain and realized her left hand was missing. The shark bite also later led to the amputation of her right leg from the knee up after multiple surgeries.
As she was pulled to shore, her sister Ellie stayed steadfast, holding Lulu’s eyes open and comforting her amidst the chaos. Lulu was airlifted to a hospital where she underwent extensive treatment and rehabilitation.
Despite the trauma, Lulu has made remarkable progress, relearning how to run and walk, and is now setting her sights on future goals like the Paralympics. Her strong support system of family and friends remains central to her recovery, motivating her to show that anything is possible even in the face of adversity.
