A man in his 40s was critically injured in a shark attack off Fernandina Beach, Florida, on Friday. The Nassau County Sheriff’s Office reported that the victim sustained a severe bite to his right arm and was hospitalized in critical condition. The incident occurred just after 11 a.m. when the department’s Marine Unit, patrolling off Amelia Island, received a distress call over the emergency radio.
Upon arrival, deputies found the man with a severe shark bite to his forearm, bleeding profusely. A deputy applied a tourniquet to the injured man’s arm and piloted the boat to Dee Dee Bartels boat ramp, where Fernandina Beach Fire Rescue was waiting. The man was then airlifted to a local hospital, where he is expected to recover.
This attack marks only the ninth confirmed unprovoked shark attack in Nassau County since 1882, according to the International Shark Attack File. In comparison, Duval County has had 46 such attacks, and St. Johns County has had 45 during the same period. Volusia County leads the state with 351 shark attacks, followed by Brevard (158), Palm Beach (83), and Duval and St. Johns counties.
Earlier this month, three people – two teenagers and a woman – were injured in back-to-back shark attacks in the waters off Florida’s Gulf Coast. The woman lost her lower left arm and suffered significant trauma to other areas of her body. One of the teenagers had significant injuries to the upper leg and one hand, while the other had minor injuries on one foot.
Friday’s attack in Nassau County was the first since July 13, 2018, when two people were bitten by sharks in unprovoked attacks. In September 2015, a 12-year-old Georgia boy was bitten twice by a shark, suffering lacerations to his leg. He was treated by paramedics and taken to UF Health for stitches.
According to the International Shark Attack File, Florida saw 16 shark attack cases last year, representing 44% of the U.S. total and 23% of unprovoked bites worldwide. This is lower than Florida’s recent five-year annual average of 19 incidents per year. The ISAF reported 14 confirmed shark-related fatalities worldwide last year, 10 of which were unprovoked. Of Florida’s 16 unprovoked bites last year, none were fatal. The last fatal shark attack in Florida was in 2010 when 38-year-old kiteboarder Stephen Howard Schafer died from massive blood loss following an attack by at least one shark off Stuart Beach.
Researchers emphasize that fatal shark bites are extremely rare. The odds of dying as a result of a shark attack in the U.S. are 1 in 3,748,067. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) offers several tips to avoid being bitten by a shark:
– Always stay in groups, as sharks are more likely to bite a solitary individual.
– Do not wander too far from shore, as this isolates an individual and places them far from assistance.
– Avoid being in the water during darkness or twilight hours when sharks are most active.
– Do not enter the water if bleeding from an open wound or if menstruating, as a shark’s ability to smell blood is acute.
– Avoid wearing shiny jewelry, as light reflecting off it resembles the sheen of fish scales.
– Avoid waters with known discharges or sewage and waters used for fishing, especially if there are signs of baitfishes or feeding activity. Diving seabirds, which frequently feed on baitfishes, are good indicators of such activity.
– Use extra caution when the waters are murky.
– Remember that sharks see contrast particularly well. Uneven tans and bright-colored clothing may draw a shark’s attention.
– Refrain from excess splashing, as this may draw a shark’s attention.
– Do not allow pets in the water, as their erratic movements may draw a shark’s attention.
– Be careful when occupying the area between sandbars or near steep drop-offs, as these are favorite hangouts for sharks.
– Swim only in areas tended by lifeguards.
– Do not enter the water if sharks are known to be present, and get out of the water if sharks are sighted.
– Never harass a shark.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission advises swimmers and surfers to avoid being in the water during twilight hours when sharks are most active. Beachgoers are also advised not to enter the water if they have an open wound or are wearing shiny jewelry, as both can attract sharks. Many beach lifeguards employ the use of purple flags to indicate the presence of dangerous marine life such as jellyfish, stingrays, or sharks.
Despite the recent attacks, incidents involving sharks are still considered rare. According to global data from the Florida Museum of Natural History’s International Shark Attack File, there are about 63 shark attacks annually. The Sunshine State typically sees just under two dozen unprovoked attacks each year, with many occurring along the Central Florida coastline.
Source: USA TODAY, CBS News, UPI
