Bull Shark Attacks Florida Diver

RIVIERA BEACH, FL — A Florida diver was hospitalized Wednesday afternoon after a run-in with a bull shark estimated to be about 7 feet in length.

According to the Riviera Beach Fire Department, the incident happened in waters near the Sailfish Marina. It is currently unclear if the diver is a male or female, but fire rescue reported on its Twitter feed that the diver suffered “significant wounds to the arm.”

Fire rescue officials transported the diver to a local hospital for treatment. The person’s condition is unknown at this time. The agency's public information officer was not immediately available for comment.

Bull sharks are found throughout Florida, including the Gulf coast. They grow to about 11 feet in length and are estimated to live beyond 24 years, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

The bull shark “is one of the few shark species that may inhabit freshwater, sometimes venturing hundreds of miles inland via coastal river systems,” FWC says on its website. The agency also notes that bull sharks are “one of the more dangerous shark species, accounting for the third highest number of attacks on humans.”

See Also:

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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.”

Photo courtesy of Albert Kok via Wikimedia Commons