Sgt. Eddie Ryan caught 175-pound blue shark from his wheelchair

Wounded Marine lives his dream on shark hunt
Oneida Dispatch
By Paula Ann Mitchell
July 20, 2014

The fearsome 7-foot ocean beast was no match for the 240-pound stouthearted Marine.

After a spirited battle on June 19, Sgt. Eddie Ryan gave a final tug and reeled in a 175-pound blue shark 30 miles out on the Atlantic.

“I lived my dream,” he said afterward, looking over the long-snouted, slender fish that lay across the 54-foot boat “La Bella Donna.”

Catching a shark is hard enough for able-bodied seafarers, but for someone like Ryan, the challenge is compounded.

The Marine sniper suffered brain injury in April of 2005 after being shot by friendly fire while serving in Iraq during his third tour of duty.

Since that day nine years ago, Ryan has shown heart as he slowly recuperates at the home of his parents, Chris and Angie.

The family moved from Ellenville to Lake George a few years ago, but the Ryans have managed to keep in touch with their supporters in Ulster County.

Word got out in recent months that Ryan was obsessed with the idea of shark hunting, and it just so happened that the right people got wind of it.
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