Woman swimming with shark swimming beneath her – Courtesy: Shutterstock – Image by Willyam Bradberry
Following two shark attacks at neighboring Walton County beaches on Friday that left three people injured in less than 90 minutes, Florida fire officials are still advising beachgoers to use cautious on Sunday.
In a news conference on Friday, South Walton Fire District Fire Chief Ryan Crawford stated that two victims of the attacks—which occurred roughly four miles apart—were in serious condition, while the third person’s condition was stable.
The South Walton Fire District posted an update on its Facebook page on Sunday, saying, “We encourage all of our beach patrons to be situationally aware in the water today, swim near a lifeguard, stay hydrated, and look out for each other.”
“Please do not underestimate the open water and any of the marine life that may be present,” the message said.
According to the government, individuals are being warned of moderate surf threats and marine life dangers on Sunday by using yellow and purple flags.
According to the Walton County Sheriff’s Office, authorities were called to a report of a woman who had been harmed by a shark in the ocean at Watersound Way and Coopersmith Lane just after 1:15 p.m. on Friday.
Crawford stated during the press conference that a 45-year-old woman was “reportedly swimming just past the first sandbar with her husband” close to WaterSound Beach.
Crawford stated that the woman had severe injuries to her abdomen and pelvis, and that she had her left lower arm amputated. For treatment, she was transported to a trauma center.
At about 2:55 p.m., four miles east of the initial incident, at Seacrest Beach’s Sandy Shores Court area, there was another attack. Just within the first sandbar, two girls, ages 15 to 17, were in waist-deep water with a group of friends when the event happened, according to the fire district.
The fire district reported that one of the teens received serious injuries to one hand and upper leg, while the other had minor injuries to one foot.
David Vaughn, the South Walton Fire District’s Beach Safety Director, said CNN on Saturday that the patient who had minor injuries had been released from the hospital.
According to him, the two other attack victims were still in stable condition at the hospital.
Officials were called by CNN to inquire about their condition, but they have not responded.
Vaughn stated that authorities are unsure of the species or whether the same shark was responsible for the various assaults.
According to Vaughn, “it would make more sense that it was the same large shark, given the nature and severity of the injuries.”
Beach flags were changed to double red Friday in the wake of the occurrences, signifying that swimming was prohibited in the water.
The 17-year-old girl’s father reported that his daughter was upset after seeing the youngsters being attacked from her hotel balcony.
Speaking of his daughter Hanna, Brian Erbesfield remarked, “She felt helpless that she couldn’t help.”
The family’s video shows a shark in breakers a few meters offshore while people congregate at the water’s edge.
“Oh God, Oh God, Oh God…” “They must leave,” a voice remarked.
At the press conference on Friday, Walton County Sheriff Michael Adkinson stated that officials are consulting with experts to determine whether or not there is “something anomalous.”
“We want to be diligent, but we don’t think there is,” he remarked. “We are aware that, tragic as this is, sharks will always be there and that we share the water with them.”
The Walton County Sheriff’s Office reports that the previous two shark encounters in the area occurred in 2021 and 2005.
In June 2021, a 14-year-old boy was bitten in the chest while swimming in Grayton State Park, close to a fishing line 40 yards offshore, during the most recent incident. Fortunately, the youngster lived to tell the tale. A 14-year-old girl from Louisiana was attacked by a shark in June 2005, which resulted in her death. The girl was on a boogie board 250 yards offshore when the shark pulled her under and bit her legs.
According to the Florida Museum of Natural History’s yearly shark attack report, Florida leads the world in shark bite frequency even though the chance of getting bitten by one is quite low.
16 unprovoked shark bite occurrences were reported in Florida in 2023, accounting for 44 percent of all shark bite incidents in the US and 23 percent globally. The majority of shark bites were reported in Volusia County; the remaining incidents occurred in Brevard, St. Lucie, Miami-Dade, Palm Beach, Escambia, and Pinellas counties. The attacks did not result in any recorded fatalities in the state last year.
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Melissa’s career in writing started more than 20 years ago. Today, she lives in South Florida with her husband and two boys.
