Brother Uses Swimsuit as Tourniquet After Shark Bites 12-Year-Old in Bahamas

A reef shark bit Parker Roll, 12, in the waters off Staniel Cay in the Bahamas on June 23, 2026, leaving him with a severely injured leg and roughly 1,000 stitches ahead of him. His older brother Jack responded by removing his own swimsuit and tying it around Parker's leg as a tourniquet. Parker is expected to make a full recovery.

A Family Trip That Turned Dangerous

The Roll family, from Friendswood, Texas, had spent the day exploring some of the most scenic waters in the Exuma Cays. Earlier they had swum with the famous swimming pigs and fed iguanas at nearby islands. The area around Staniel Cay is popular with tourists for its clear water and accessible marine life.

At approximately 3:30 p.m., Parker was in the water when a shark estimated at eight to ten feet long, believed to be a reef shark, attacked. Parker later described the moment with striking clarity: "I could see my bone."

His Brother's Quick Response