Beach visitors FloridaPolice have asked residents to be vigilant after a series of shark attacks along the Gulf Coast left a woman and two teenagers injured on Friday.
According to local authorities, the unnamed 45-year-old woman Hurt She was injured while swimming at Watersound Beach at around 1:20 p.m. local time. She suffered “significant trauma” to her abdomen and was airlifted to hospital with part of her arm broken. Amputation.
The unnamed woman was in critical condition at HCA Fort Walton-Destin on Saturday. Her current condition is unknown.
Rescuers in Walton County, Florida, load a shark attack victim onto a stretcher and airlift him to a hospital on June 7, 2024.
Walton County Sheriff's Office
South Walton Fire District Chief Ryan Crawford told reporters that about 90 minutes later, another shark attack occurred near Seacrest Beach, about 6 kilometers east of Watersound Beach.
Two teenagers, aged 15 and 17, were injured in the attack. The girls were swimming with a group of friends in waist-deep water near a sandbar when the shark approached.
Crawford did not specify which teens were injured. He said one of the girls had “significant injuries” to her thigh and one hand. She was in critical condition Saturday, but the extent of her injuries was not immediately known.
The second girl was in stable condition and was transferred to a treatment center for a minor foot injury.
Authorities carry a shark attack victim on a stretcher in Walton County, Florida, June 7, 2024.
Walton County Sheriff's Office
Both attacks occurred in Walton County, Florida, where shark bites are uncommon. It was not immediately clear what type of shark was behind the attacks or whether it was the same shark.
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According to USA Today, police have asked the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to keep an eye on Bull Sharkwhich is common in the area.
The Bay County Sheriff's Office said the annual schools of bait fish in the area may have contributed to the shark attacks. Walton County Sheriff Michael A. Adkinson Jr. said at a news conference Saturday that authorities ordered the beach closed on Friday after the first attack. He said the order had not yet been fully enforced when the second attack occurred.
The beach reopened on Saturday. Purple flags, which indicate dangerous animal sightings, and red flags, which indicate dangerous rip currents, were both flying within the warning range.
Adkinson said the last shark attack in Walton County was in 2021 and the victim survived.
He called the spate of shark attacks “an anomaly” and said authorities were doing everything they could to contain and mitigate the impact of the incident. An investigation is ongoing with support from marine wildlife experts at the Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium, a research institution.
On social media, the South Walton Fire District has repeatedly warned swimmers to be aware of marine animals.
“Please do not underestimate the high seas and any marine life that exists,” authorities wrote. “As events unfold on Friday, we continue to send our best wishes to the families of the victims and all involved, including the bystanders who selflessly offered their help.”
The fire district again reminded beachgoers on Monday to “respect the open water and all marine life that may be present at any time.”
The International Shark Attack File (ISAF) at the University of Florida reports that 70 to 100 shark attacks It is exhibited internationally every year.
A new report released by the organization states: Unprovoked shark attack In 2023, shark attacks were at their highest rate, with more fatalities than in previous years. Australia saw the highest number of these attacks. Last year, ISAF tracked 69 unprovoked shark bites and 22 provoked shark bites worldwide.
The chances of being bitten by a shark are extremely low. The International Coast Guard Association advises sea swimmers to stay close to shore, avoid swimming at dawn or dusk, and avoid excessive splashing.
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