Shark bite survivor basks in limelight

Michael Adler now a household name

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – A Fort Lauderdale teenager is sinking his teeth into stardom after a shark did pretty much the same thing to his leg last Saturday.

Shuttled from one television studio to the next -- under bright lights and cameras -- Michael Adler is now a household name.

"This stuff has gone through the roof and that's pretty crazy," he said. "I was surfing in Sebastian and when I caught one of my last waves and kicked off the wave, I stepped off the sand and went to get back on the board. That's when the shark clamped down on my leg."

And it didn't let go.

"It grabbed my leg like when a dog grabs a toy," Adler said.

Adler said he didn't feel the painful sting you would expect to feel. He paddled back to shore as fast as he could and waited for help. But the teen says he was more worried about a few other things.

"Wow this is pretty cool. I just got bit by a shark," he said. "I was just making sure they remembered to bring my surfboard and make sure they took some pictures."

A few stitches, a cast, crutches and three days later, he's enjoying the attention. And he's ready to get back on the board.

"Hopefully in six weeks," Adler said. "That's when the doctor said i could."