2 Weekend Shark Attacks Reported In Florida

As 90-degree temperatures drive Floridians and visitors to the state’s beaches, the shark bite reports are starting to roll in. Two, in fact, came in over the weekend.

The first attack occurred at Jacksonville’s Huguenot Memorial Park Saturday. According to media reports, that attack involved an 11-year-old girl who was bitten while wading in waist-deep water. She suffered wounds to her back, arm and hands.

The type of shark involved in Saturday’s attack is unclear. Its size is also unknown.

The little girl, who has not been identified, is reportedly recovering at home while waiting for orthopedic surgery, according to ActionNewsJax.

The second attack occurred on Sunday in Vero Beach. In that case, a 57-year-old woman was bit on the thigh. The woman was taken to a local hospital for treatment and later released after receiving stitches. Authorities have not said what type of shark was involved in that case either.

This past weekend’s attacks come on the heels of a 23-year-old woman’s recent run-in with a nurse shark in Boca Raton. In that case, the woman felt the creature bite her arm and was able to get out of the water. The 2-foot shark, however, remained attached to her forearm. It stayed there even after it was killed. Both the woman and the shark were transported to a local hospital.

See Also:

• Nurse Shark Bit Woman, Wouldn’t Let Go
• Florida Diver Attacked By Bull Shark
• Shark Attack Numbers Break Record In 2015
• Shark Attacks: What Are The Odds?

Florida leads the nation and the world in the number of unprovoked shark attacks reported annually. Last year, there were 30 confirmed unprovoked attacks in the Sunshine State. North Carolina and South Carolina tied for second place in the country after Florida with eight confirmed attacks each.

George Burgess, the director of the International Shark Attack File, which is part of the Florida Museum of National History on the University of Florida campus, explains: “Sharks plus humans equals attacks. As our population continues to rapidly grow and shark populations slowly recover, we’re going to see more interactions."

While Florida’s 2015 attacks added up to 30, that number didn’t break the state’s record. The record high was 37, recorded in 2000. Brevard County once again led the state with eight attacks, followed closely by Volusia County with seven.

Although the number of shark attacks is rising, Burgess said the likelihood of being attacked remains low. Spiders, dogs and lightning killed more people than sharks last year, according to Burgess.

“Shark attacks in general are really a nonentity when we think of causes of mortality involved with humans,” Burgess said in a previous interview. “It’s a lot more dangerous driving to the beach.”