Shark attack victim to share story of faith at UBC

During the 11 a.m. worship service Sunday, Dec. 8, at Urbanna Baptist Church (UBC), a shark attack victim with Urbanna ties will be speaking about her experience and the faith that helped her and her family survive the encounter. 

Elisabeth Foley, daughter of Louise and William Kerry, former residents of Urbanna, was violently attacked by a bull nose shark on June 7, 2024, while swimming off the coast of Panama City, Fla. While floating beyond the cresting waves with her husband and three teenaged children, Elisabeth noticed a huge, dark shadow beside her. The shark immediately attacked her while she was trying to swim away. She was bitten severely several times.

She called to God to please protect her family members from the shark, and asked if she could possibly be spared. “If you could spare me,” she called to God, “I will be a testimony to you.” 

At that point, she punched the shark on its nose. It bit her left hand and lower arm, causing her to lose them. As she and her family continued toward the shore, the shark swam beside her but never opened its mouth again.

Upon reaching shore, vacationers on the beach with medical experience came immediately to treat her until an Emergency Medical Response team arrived. She spent several days in a Florida hospital followed by rehab. Elisabeth was then transferred to Chippenham Hospital in Richmond for 40 days and underwent 19 surgeries, followed by more rehab.

Elisabeth and her husband, Ryan, and their three children live in Ashland. She has honored her promise to God for saving her life and the lives of her family by taking opportunities to share her faith.

All are invited to attend as Elisabeth shares her story.