Throughout the week, our ACC Team searches through emails and news articles looking for someone who deserves to be the Hero of the Week… Find out how you can nominate a Hero of the Week at the bottom of the page.
By now you’ve probably heard of the shark attacks on the beaches of Florida’s 30A area. Teenager Lulu Gribbin was on a mother-daughter trip with friends when she jumped into the water with a few of her buddies. The group was waist-deep in the water when a shark swam by and bit her hand and leg.
Luckily, Dr. Ryan Forbess and his friend Dr. Mohammad Ali just happened to be vacationing on that same beach. They noticed blood in the water and saw people running to help Lulu. So, they ran to help the young girl. Both said that seconds seemed like hours during this kind of trauma, and they knew that they had to act fast to keep her from bleeding out.
The doctors were able to get tourniquets on Lulu to stop the bleeding. Dr Forbess said that they had a good team of people around them on the beach including a trauma nurse. Once the first responders arrived, they were able to get to Lulu and airlift her to the hospital.
Lulu’s mother said that her daughter might not have made it if those doctors hadn’t stopped the bleeding. Lulu is recovering after losing her hand and part of her leg, but she survived. Her mother, Ann, said Lulu’s first words when she came to was “I made it.”
Learn more about this story as covered by ABC 33/40 in Birmingham, Alabama.
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Kix’s Response:
Wow! I’m so glad this had a positive outcome. Dr. Forbess and Dr. Ali, you are definitely heroes, and, as doctors, I’m pretty sure you’re used to being referred to as heroes!
Nominate a Hero of the Week
Now, we want to know who has made a difference in your life. Nominate a local firefighter, police officer, EMT or someone who is serving our country in the military. It could even be a neighbor, family member or friend who lent a crucial helping hand. Let us know all about the person who you feel is a real life hero by emailing us here and please feel free to send us a picture!
