The ‘Shark Bite Capital of the World” is making good on its reputation.
There were two shark attacks in New Smyrna Beach, Fla., in as many days over the holiday weekend, according to a report in USA Today. Fortunately, although both victims were brought to a local hospital, neither had life-threatening injuries.
Not coincidently, the attacks came just prior to “Shark Week.”
On the 4th of July, a 21-year-old was bitten on the foot in knee-deep water while playing football.
On day later, a 26-year-old man also took a bite on the foot while enjoying the ocean in approximately five feet over water. The latter incident was reported by Volusia County Beach Safety spokeswoman Tamra Malphurs.
Of course, the biggest shark attack story over the holiday weekend came out of South Padre Island in Southwest Texas as two people were bitten on Independence Day.
Although there was a 12.2% decrease in shark bites last year as compared to the year before, according to the report, there were still 69 ‘unprovoked’ shark bites to humans in 2023, including 36 in the United States. Two of those attacks were fatal, including one in California and one in Hawaii.
Not surprisingly, Florida led the nation with 16 attacks a year ago.
According to International Shark Attack File report, there have been 1,632 unprovoked shark bites in this country since 1837.