Sentence:  Suddenly I realized they were all sharks, big ones, and very much alive! I was <WSD>shark bait</WSD> and began swimming as hard as I could for shore, making little headway, before remembering to ask God for protection and strength. He enabled me to relax and swim slowly. 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  One who has been, or is likely to be, attacked by a shark.