This extraordinary story began on what was supposed to be a joyful and carefree Friday during a recent mother-daughter beach trip, a getaway planned to escape the busyness of everyday life. Ann Blair Gribbin and her daughter Lulu Gribbin, eager for sun-soaked memories and laughter, could never have foreseen the whirlwind about to unfold.
Taking a rare break from his busy medical practice, Dr. Forbess was at the beach with his wife, children, and good friend, Dr. Mohammad Ali. Their peaceful day of relaxation was abruptly shattered when they heard panicked cries:
“Shark! Get out of the water!” Without hesitation, both doctors rushed toward the commotion as a man carried a teenage girl from the Gulf.
Beachgoers, including Matthew Lidle, Sterling Duncan, and Stephen Beene, had already raced toward the girl, even bravely fighting off the shark. Two nearby trauma nurses joined the doctors, and within moments, beach patrol officers and first responders arrived. It was an incredible display of teamwork-doctors, nurses, lifeguards, paramedics, and ordinary citizens, all working together to save lives.
“It had to be a God thing,” said Shari Woody, office manager at Orange Beach Family Medicine. “For everyone to be in just the right place at the right time was nothing short of a miracle.” Dr. Forbess and Dr. Ali immediately sprang into action. They quickly applied tourniquets to stop the bleeding from Lulu Gribbin’s left wrist and right leg. “Dr. Ali, being a radiologist, knew exactly where to apply pressure to control the bleeding,” Shari added. “It was like watching a trauma team in action, but right there on the beach.” Lulu, a 15-year-old from Mountain Brook, Alabama, tragically lost a hand and a leg in the attack, but thanks to the quick actions of everyone involved, she survived.
Another victim,16-year-old McCray Faust, also suffered shark bites to her leg but was saved as well.
Lulu’s mother, Ann Blair Gribbin, has expressed her deep gratitude for the doctors, nurses, and everyone who played a role in saving her daughter’s life.
As we continue to pray for a full recovery for both teenagers, there is a sense that perhaps it was divine intervention that brought all these people together at just the right moment to save lives.
Despite the traumatic ordeal, Lulu has shown remarkable strength and determination to live life as normally as possible. After undergoing several surgeries in North Carolina this past August, she returned home and has been sharing her journey on Instagram, even posting videos of herself playing golf. She attends physical and occupational therapy three times a week and is back in school at Mountain Brook, AL. Ann Blair Gribbin has been keeping a journal of Lulu’s progress, sharing updates with the community.
Lulu continues to inspire everyone around her with her resilience and strength as she bravely adapts to her new normal.
