Woman, 45, sustains ‘significant trauma’ and has part of arm amputated, as two teens injured in second attack
Two separate shark attacks at Florida beaches wounded three swimmers, including two teenagers, prompting some popular vacation spots to temporarily close, according to authorities.
A shark bit a 45-year-old woman at about 1.20pm on Friday while she swam at Watersound beach, along the coast of Walton county, Florida, in the western part of the state.
First responders airlifted the woman to a hospital after she sustained “significant trauma” to her midsection, according to Walton county sheriff’s office spokesperson Corey Dobridnia, USA Today reported. Part of her left arm had to be amputated as a result of the attack.
In a second attack about 90 minutes later, two more people were injured by a shark at Inlet beach, just four miles (6.4km) from Watersound, WVTM 13 reported.
I’m east of these beaches this week on vacation. Is this related to the high water temperatures in the Gulf? Saw fish have been driven to strange behavior in southern Florida recently.
This is definitely out of the ordinary for this particular county (from what I can tell).
Only 1 shark attack has been recorded in this county in the last ~140 years.
https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/shark-attacks/maps/na/usa/florida/
Also a fun fact, while most of the shark attacks (in the U.S.) happen in Florida, you’re very likely to survive. (About 15-30 attacks per year, and only 1 fatality every few years if I’m remembering correctly).
However, while you’re much less likely to get attacked in California, if you do get attacked, you’re far more likely to die. (About 1-2 shark attacks every year and a fatality every other year if, I’m remembering correctly).
https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/shark-attacks/yearly-worldwide-summary/