Celebrate Shark Week with Rescue at the Reef
Shark Week is almost here! Cue the adrenaline, underwater cameras, and iconic dorsal fins slicing through the surf.
Since 1988, Discovery Channel’s annual deep dive into the world of sharks has thrilled audiences with epic footage, fascinating science, and the occasional fear-inducing fin sighting. But did you know it all began as a way to protect sharks?
That’s right! Shark Week was created not to terrify us, but to educate us about these often misunderstood predators. And while much of the week is dedicated to dramatics and spectacle, Shark Week also reminds us of the power and unpredictability of the ocean and the resilience of those who face it head-on.
A Real-Life Story from the Deep
This year, as you watch scientists tag tiger sharks or free divers swim in cages (or without them), we want to introduce you to a true story that feels straight out of a Shark Week documentary, but with a heart-stopping twist of faith and hope.
In Rescue at the Reef, a two-week family vacation in the Florida Keys turns into a life-or-death emergency when 10-year-old Jameson Reeder Jr. is attacked by a massive bull shark while snorkeling at Looe Key Reef.
Nine miles from shore.
Far from a hospital.
Bleeding. Weakening. Praying.
What follows is nothing short of miraculous—a rescue effort that defied the odds and a young boy whose unshakable faith and peace in the midst of unimaginable pain left everyone, from doctors to strangers, awestruck.
More Than Survival, It’s a Story of Resilient Faith
Rescue at the Reef isn’t just a survival story. It’s a testament to how suffering can spark strength, how faith can lead in fear, and how even a shark attack can become a platform for God’s grace to ripple out to the world.
So while you’re celebrating Shark Week this year with your popcorn and your “shark fact of the day,” take a moment to read a story that’s as real and as remarkable as it gets.
Coming July 22nd: Rescue at the Reef A true story of miraculous survival and bold faith. Learn more and preorder here:
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A two-week vacation to the Florida Keys meant Mary and Jameson Sr. could share the beauty of their favorite turquoise-blue waters with their four children. On that serene day at Looe Key Reef, their oldest, ten-year-old Jameson Jr., was swimming among the marine life, capturing breathtaking footage of a sea turtle when a massive bull shark attacked.
Nine miles from shore and even farther from a hospital, their son weakening, the Reeders prayed for help—and it came through a miraculous chain of events.
Rescue at the Reef is the true story of a young boy who defied death with an unshakable faith in the power of Jesus to save him. Even in immense suffering, he focused on caring for those around him, so much that it surprised even hospital staff. His unshakeable peace made an impact on patients and visitors, and his story quickly spread, drawing the attention of strangers and the media.
With reflections on faith, suffering, and the hidden gifts that often go unnoticed, Rescue at the Reef is a living reminder that with God, even the most fearsome challenges can be faced—and conquered. This unforgettable story will leave you on the edge of your seat, inspired by the ripple effects of hope that overcome impossible odds.