A 10-year-old boy had to be rescued from the sea after he was mauled by a shark - leaving him with life-changing injuries.
Dillon Armijo, from Colorado, US, is recovering in hospital in America after a shark bit his leg on holiday in Cancun, Mexico on March 17.
It reportedly left him with two broken bones, extensive nerve damage, as well as severed tendons and a ruptured meniscus.
The schoolboy told media in Denver: "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."
His mum, Abby Armijo, said a man nearby, a lifeguard, and his older brother managed to pull him out of the water.
He spent four days in hospital in Mexico before being airlifted to Children's Hospital Colorado in Aurora.
He has undergone several operations and is expected to be able to walk again.
Abby told media in Denver: "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.
"I think that was what has given him such a great outcome is being back here at home with some fantastic doctors."
Dillon has no more operations scheduled and is hoping to be discharged soon. He will be able to return home but will have to attend many future physiotherapy sessions.
A fundraising appeal was created by Kari Flauding on behalf of Abby on March 21.
She wrote: "You always say this won't happen to you, but it unfortunately did for Dillon who turned 10 years old just a few weeks ago.
"As many families do, Dillon went on Spring Break with his mom and brother to Cancun, Mexico to take a break from school, enjoy family and live life!
"While playing knee-deep in the water with his brother at the beach one day, the unexpected happened - a large wave came and he was attacked by a shark.
"His brother who was playing next to him, carried him to the beach to safety and he was immediately taken to the emergency room by his mother.
"He suffered massive damage to his leg, including two broken bones, extensive nerve damage, as well as severed tendons and meniscus.
"He then underwent surgery in Cancun but his injuries were too extensive and he had to be medically evacuated to the Children's Hospital back home in CO where he has undergone 2 more surgeries.
"He has 3 additional surgeries to go and many hours of physical therapy ahead of him where the doctors and his family are hopeful he will be able to walk again.
"As a mom of 2 boys myself and one of Dillon's best friends, I wanted to start this fundraiser to try to help Dillon's family with the medical bills that are piling up quickly - just to give this young boy a chance to walk again."
Abby told local media: "It's nice to know that there's so many people here to help us out."
She said of her brave lad: "He's done fantastic, considering all that he's been through."
