Shark Victim’s Condition Is Upgraded to Serious

Jessie Arbogast, the 8-year-old boy whose arm was torn off in a shark attack two weeks ago, has been taken off the critical list.

Jessie’s condition was upgraded to serious. He remained in a light coma but was no longer in immediate danger of dying, said Rob Patterson, a pediatric intensive care specialist at Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital in Pensacola.

The Ocean Springs, Miss., boy continues to receive dialysis to help repair his kidneys, which were damaged when he lost nearly all his blood in the July 6 attack.

Surgeons were able to reattach Jessie’s right arm, which was recovered when the 6 1/2-foot-long shark was pulled from the sea by the boy’s uncle and another beach-goer.