Sullivan Clarke Survives Near-Fatal Throat-Slashing After Alleged Attack by Jermaine Long on Daytona Beach Boardwalk as Mother Lori Clarke Says Viral Photo Shows Teen Smiling Despite Nightmares [VIDEO]

A 13-year-old boy is being called a miracle survivor after authorities say he was randomly attacked and nearly killed while walking with his parents on a Florida boardwalk.

Sullivan Clarke was on vacation with his family when police say 44-year-old Jermaine Long suddenly approached and slashed the teen’s neck with a box cutter around 10 p.m. on Feb. 14. The incident happened as the family was heading back to their hotel.

According to investigators, Long has been arrested and charged with felony aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.

Sullivan’s mother, Lori Clarke, said she noticed the man before the attack because he had a “strange look in his eyes.” Moments later, the suspect allegedly cut her son’s throat without warning.

The teen later explained that a split-second movement may have saved his life. He said he happened to glance up at a nearby ride at the exact moment of the assault, shifting his neck just enough so the blade struck the side instead of a more vulnerable area.

His father, Jerod Clarke, described the injury as extremely severe, saying he could see deep into the wound and that a cut just a millimeter deeper might have been fatal.

Sullivan received 13 stitches and is recovering physically, though his mother says he has experienced nightmares since the attack. Despite that, a photo of him smiling after surviving the ordeal has spread widely online, with many praising his resilience.

Authorities say the attack appears to have been random, and court records show Long appeared before a judge Feb. 17. Further details about his plea or legal representation have not yet been released.