Lake City grad survives shark attack
Courtesy photo Lake City High School graduate and former Coeur d’Alene Charter Academy student Joe Tanner, 29, survived a shark attack Oct. 10 off the Oregon coast. He is seen here enjoying summertime on Lake Coeur d’Alene.
COEUR d’ALENE — Although he grew up swimming in the shark-free waters of Lake Coeur d'Alene, Joe Tanner's instincts when attacked by a shark while surfing off the Oregon coast saved his life.
"He was so lucky," Joe's dad, Steve Tanner, told The Press. "He was able to hit the shark in the gills to get him to release him. He was hanging on the back of the board. He basically beat the shark with both hands until it released him."
Joe, 29, of Portland, was surfing with friends near Indian Beach in Ecola State Park on Oct. 10 when a dorsal fin appeared in the water near them. A shark sunk its teeth into Joe's upper thigh and above his ankle, covering an area of about 26 inches.
"It must have been a huge shark," Steve said. "They suspect it was a great white."
Steve, who lives in Coeur d'Alene with his wife, Roye, said Joe has already had three surgeries to close the wounds, some of which were as deep as 6 inches.
"It was a miracle that with as much damage as it did, it didn't sever any arteries or tendons," he said.
Another fortunate part of the attack is that Joe is a critical care nurse at Legacy Emanuel Medical Center in Portland and was able to tell his fellow surfers how to help him.
"He directed his own first-aid treatment," said Joe's longtime friend Lindsey Washburn.
When he got to shore, Joe calmly told the other surfers how to make a tourniquet out of a surfboard leash to stop the blood loss.
"It's pretty amazing," Steve said. "We're so thankful he's alive and he'll get full use of his legs back over time."
Washburn said when he's recovered, Joe wants to share his story to educate others about what to do in a shark attack crisis.
"He doesn't like being the center of attention, but he understands that if he can take these 15 minutes of fame and use them for something good, he will," she said.
Joe swam with the Inland Northwest Masters Swimming at the Kroc Center and has participated in several local swimming events such as the Coeur d'Alene Crossing. Steve said they're already planning to have Joe back out there swimming across the lake next summer.