Despite getting mauled last week by a shark in Balian, West Bali, we are thrilled to learn that American surfer Ryan Boarman has not ridden his last wave.
Boarman was catching waves in Balian on April 25, when a two-meter long shark bit his arm near the elbow, tearing through muscle, all the way down to the bone.
The surfer was rushed to a hospital in Bali and later sent to Singapore for multiple surgeries, which appear to have gone well as an update has been posted to his Facebook page announcing the outcome of Boarman’s latest complicated surgery.
According to a Facebook page chronicling Boarman’s journey, the Singapore doctor said, “Ryan should need no more surgeries and will likely recover 99% of the arm’s functionality (there may be a small reduction in dexterity, so becoming a surgeon is probably off of his bucket list).”
In about a week’s time he can probably go home, it’ll take around three months before he can function normally, and most importantly six months before he can surf again, but “in shark-free waters, please!”
Seems Boarman has fared better than his boards though! After all that’s happened, his boards apparently did not survive the journey back from Bali: “To add insult to injury, some careless baggage handlers somehow destroyed his two beloved surfboards and board bag on their trip back to California.” Ouch.
