A pair of shark attacks in Walton County, Florida, on June 7 resulted in three people being hospitalized, one of whom lost her left hand. The beaches were reopened the following day, with the South Walton Fire District changing the flags to single red and purple, signaling hazardous water and possible dangerous marine life.
The first attack involved a 45-year-old woman who was swimming past the first sandbar near Watersound Beach and the second attack occurred near Inlet Beach, where two teenage girls were swimming with friends. The victims were taken to local hospitals, with the woman in critical condition and the girls sustaining severe injuries.
Beaches in Walton County were reopened on June 8, with authorities monitoring the shoreline to ensure safety. Neighboring Bay County also closed its beaches following the incidents. Worldwide, there were 69 confirmed unprovoked shark bites in 2023, with 14 fatalities, two of which occurred in the U.S.
Florida remains the top location for shark bites, with 16 confirmed cases in 2023. The majority of shark bites in the state occur along the East Coast, particularly between Jacksonville and Palm Beach County. Volusia County has seen the highest number of shark attacks in Florida from 1882 to the present.
The International Shark Attack File identified the top locations for unprovoked shark bites worldwide in 2023, with the United States leading with 36 cases, followed by Australia, New Caledonia, Brazil, and Egypt. Surfing and swimming were the most common activities during shark attacks.
Overall, 2023 saw an increase in shark-related fatalities, potentially due to the presence of white sharks near popular surfing sites in Australia. While the number of unprovoked shark bites in Florida remains consistent with previous years, the global average for fatal shark bites has more than doubled in 2023.
Source link
