Shark bite victim taking it in stride

Jeff White

NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Florida (CNN) -- There were six shark attacks in and around New Smyrna Beach, Florida, over the weekend. One of the victims was Jeff White, 20, who was participating in a surfing competition when he was bitten. White spoke with CNN on Monday.

CNN: Jeff, I heard you just got out of the hospital. How are you feeling?

WHITE: All right. I had some infection spreading throughout my foot, so I had to go back and get some antibiotic through an IV treatment. And I have to go back later on this evening and have the same thing done again just to kind of prevent some gangrene from spreading.

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CNN: It sounds like a lot of pain there. Tell me what happened to you. How did you know that you were bitten by a shark?

WHITE: Well, just being a surfer, you kind of have the knowledge of knowing that they are out there and just the pain. The initial bite was not too severe of a pain, just because my adrenaline and the shock, I think, set in.

CNN: Did you see the shark?

WHITE: I didn't see it. I didn't see it until after it bit me actually. So I didn't -- I can't tell what type it was just because I'm not familiar with the types of shark. But they were saying that it might have been a bull shark or a sand shark of some sort.

CNN: What happened next?

WHITE: I was on my board, and I caught a wave, and I had, I guess, jumped off the board or fell off or whatever. And my story -- I think that the shark was somehow like lurking underneath me or whatever and saw the splash. And I pulled myself up onto my board, and by then it had already grabbed my foot. And it was too late.

So I went into shore, and I started running up and down the beach kind of looking for some help. And a couple of lifeguards were right there to help me out. They bandaged me all up. And then I was on my way to the hospital.

CNN: Did you guys know there were sharks in the water before you started the competition?

WHITE: Yes, we did. There was, I would say, a bunch of schools out there. So it was pretty obvious that they were out there.

CNN: So why in the world would you go into the water?

WHITE: It's just something you've got to deal with if you want to compete and have that adrenaline rush when you're actually out there surfing. It's just a great recreation.

CNN: Yes. I'd say so. It's not exactly my idea of fun, Jeff. But anyway, you know, the odds are so against us. I mean, all of the experts say that you are more likely to be struck by lightning than you are to be bitten by a shark.

WHITE: That's true.

CNN: And isn't it true that you were once struck by lightning?

WHITE: Yes, I was. Two years ago, I was on a surf trip in Costa Rica, and I got struck by lightning.

CNN: So, Jeff, do your friends kind of try to avoid you? I mean, do they think that you're a little accident prone?

WHITE: Yes, they might say that.

CNN: What do you think?

WHITE: I just think I am very blessed actually, because I have survived both of them -- lightning strike and a shark bite now. So maybe I'm -- maybe God has got some big plans for me or something.