On Friday on Florida's east coast around 11:15 a.m. local time, a man took his boat out to fish near the port of Fernandina. While fishing, he was attacked by the shark.
According to Nassau County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Alicia Tarancon,Emergency services found a 40-year-old man in serious condition“.
“The shark bit him on the forearmwhich caused him to lose a lot of blood,” the Nassau County Sheriff's Office said on social media.
Shark attack in Florida. Emergency services respond
According to the release, “the deputy acted very quickly, boarded the boat and applied a tourniquet to stop the bleeding. He then rowed the boat to the Dee Dee Bartels boat ramp where the fire department was waiting.”
The injured man, in critical condition, was transported to a local hospital by helicopter. “Although he is in critical condition, doctors are optimistic and expect the man to recover,” the sheriff's office said.
Shark Attacks in Florida: Experts Comment
Shark activity in Florida waters typically peaks between April and October, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. “However, shark bites remain very rare,” the agency said.
“In Florida, people are 30 times more likely to be struck by lightning than to be attacked by a shark. Experts agree that the increase in shark bites in recent years is more related to an increase in the number of swimmers than to an increase in shark population or activity.”
According to a government agency in Florida, shark attacks result in death in less than 1% of cases.
United States. Shark attacks in Florida
“Experts believe most shark bites are mistaken, which explains why nearly all shark attacks in Florida waters are the result of the animal biting and releasing its victim,” the agency said.
Although the risk of being bitten by a shark is extremely low, Florida tops the world rankings for the number of shark bites, according to the Florida Museum of Natural History's annual report on shark attacks.
In 2023, 16 unprovoked shark attacks were reported in Florida, accounting for 44 percent of the total number of cases in United States and 23 percent worldwide.
Source: CNN, ABC News
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