LOS ANGELES (AP) — A surfer attacked by a shark off the coast of Southern California called his tale of survival a "Christmas miracle" that he hopes will inspire others who are going through tough times.
Adam Coons, 37, was surfing his last wave of the day near Santa Rosa Island, one of the Channel Islands, on Saturday afternoon when the shark suddenly emerged.
"It felt like I just got blasted by a torpedo," Coons told ABC News. "I didn't feel the bite from the adrenaline and then I was immediately (submerged) underwater getting thrashed."
ABC interviewed Coons and his friend and former lifeguard Jeremy Howard, who was aboard a boat nearby and pulled the surfer to safety before applying a tourniquet to his leg.
"I just said, 'We're going to lay you down right now and I'm going to tie
