Ashland woman recovers after shark attack in Florida

HANOVER COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — An Ashland woman was attacked by a shark over the weekend while swimming with her husband in Florida.

Elisabeth Foley, a longtime Ashland resident, was bitten by a shark while swimming off the coast of Walton County, Florida, on Friday.

Due to the injuries Foley sustained, her left forearm had to be amputated.

As soon as Jeff Brauer, a pastor at Foley’s church in Glen Allen, heard the news, he began raising money for her medical expenses. It wasn’t long before the church had raised nearly $50,000, halfway to its $100,000 goal.

“The numerous surgeries are going well and the doctors are encouraged by what they are seeing,” Brauer said.

This was not the only shark encounter over the weekend, as just an hour and a half past Foley, four miles east of where the incident occurred, two young girls were attacked.

Foley is still recovering and is supported by her family and church members.