Colorado boy, 10, attacked by shark in Mexico
A 10-year-old boy from Colorado is hospitalized after he was viciously attacked by a shark while on vacation in Mexico earlier this month, his family said.
Dillon Armijo was with his family at a beach in Cancún on March 17 when a shark bit him on the leg, he told Denver7.
“We went to the beach and wanted to swim or jump in waves and then like, five minutes after that, like a shark just came into like, a wave and just bit my leg,” he said of the harrowing encounter.
Dillon was rescued from the water by a lifeguard, his mother, and his older brother, the outlet reported.
He subsequently spent four days in the hospital in Mexico before being airlifted to Children’s Hospital Colorado in Aurora.
![Dillon being loaded onto the medical plane.](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/03/NYPICHPDPICT000008978714.jpg?w=1024)
![Dillon Armijo on the beach.](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/03/NYPICHPDPICT000008978709.jpg?w=807)
Dillon has undergone several surgeries, but is expected to make a full recovery.
“We were very, very lucky that we were able to get a medevac back to the United States and get him here to do the last three surgeries,” his mom, Abby, told Denver7.
“I think that was what has given him such a great outcome is being back here at home with some fantastic doctors.”
![Dillon with his mom, Abby, at the hospital.](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/03/NYPICHPDPICT000008978726.jpg?w=1024)
![Dillon with his family on the medical plane.](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/03/NYPICHPDPICT000008978718.jpg?w=1024)
Dillon will soon be discharged from the hospital, and will relearn to walk with a lengthy physical therapy regimen.
“[Dillon has] done fantastic, considering all that he’s been through,” the proud mom said.
The family has started a GoFundMe to help pay for the unexpected medical bills. As of Thursday morning, it had raised over $17,800 of its $20,000 goal.
![Dillon with his brother and mother.](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/03/NYPICHPDPICT000008978724.jpg?w=1024)
![Dillon in a pool with a dolphin.](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/03/NYPICHPDPICT000008978725.jpg?w=1024)
“It’s nice to know that there’s so many people here to help us out,” Abby added.
Mexico’s picturesque coastline is no stranger to shark attacks: In January this year, a diver was decapitated by a great white shark off the coast of Sonora, on the west coast.
Experts speculated that the diver, who was wearing a wetsuit, may have been mistaken for a seal.