There's nothing a parent wouldn't do to protect their children, and that includes fighting off a shark bare-knuckle.
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A man in Florida is being praised for his bravery after protecting his pregnant fiancée and unborn child from a bloodthirsty shark.
Jacorey High was wading in the water near the Dunlawton Beach Approach in Volusia County, Fla., on July 25 when a shark suddenly approached him and bit his foot.
The 22-year-old man detailed the scary incident during his appearance on Tuesday's episode of the TODAY Show.
"When he let go of my foot, he tried to come up and get my arm. I pushed it away from me," High recalled.
Immediately, High's attention turned toward keeping his fiancée safe.
Man Protects Fiancée From Shark Attack
"As soon as I got bit, I kept shoving her toward the beach area, and then that's when I started thinking about myself when I saw she was on the sand," High told local CBS affiliate WKMG-TV. "I had to push my pregnant fiancée towards the beach first. Then that's when I tried to get out.
Once High reached the shore, he realized the severity of his injury.
"A whole lot of blood just pouring out of my foot," High said. "It ripped all the tendons in my foot and my ankle."
Shark Attacks Are Fairly Common in Florida
According to the Florida Museum of Natural History's International Shark Attack File, Florida reported the most unprovoked shark bites in the US last year. Volusia County accounted for six of those bites, which is more than half of the state's total.
A GoFundMe account has been created to help High cover the medical costs of repairing his injured foot and ankle.
The 22-year-old noted that he could miss extensive time from work as he recovers.
Despite the repeated shark attacks in Florida, Volusia County Beach Safety Ocean Rescue Director Tamra Malphurs still wants beachgoers to enjoy themselves. However, Malphurs advises visitors to stay near a lifeguard tower so that help is nearby in case of an incident.
"Beachgoers should stay aware of their surroundings. If you notice birds diving into the water or large schools of bait fish gathering near shore, it is a good idea to temporarily move to another area," the rescue director told PEOPLE.
Despite getting chomped by a shark, High noted that his rescue mission was well worth the pain.
"That's the person I love the most. I would rather see her safe than me," High told WKMG-TV.
