Florida's shark attack season appears to be in full swing, as several beachgoers were bitten in Cocoa Beach and New Smyrna Beach on Friday, less than a week after a 13-year-old girl was attacked.
The first shark attack of the day involved a 19-year-old woman who was swimming in waist-deep water in New Smyrna Beach, according to the Orlando Sentinel. The shark struck the woman's foot around 1:45 p.m., causing minor injuries that were treated by safety officials on the beach. The woman did not observe the shark as it approached her, and the species responsible for the attack wasn't readily identified.
If Your Shark Photos Aren't Good, You're Not Clo... http://t.co/6GSoSKiDsg via @wittier | https://t.co/I5UKIp5HVI pic.twitter.com/SF3jEV2ucT
— Chef Julia (@LeButtery) May 21, 2015
— Chef Julia (@LeButtery) May 21, 2015
"She didn't say much," James recalled. "She was in a lot of pain. I think she was still in shock."
Major Scott Rosenfeld, a Cocoa Beach police spokesman, noted that the girl's injuries were "serious but not life-threatening." Authorities believe she was standing in the water, rather than swimming, when the shark attacked her. By the time lifeguards arrived, the shark had departed the area, making identification of the species similarly impossible.
Gallery: Common species of sharks found in #Florida waters (like this bull shark). http://t.co/AH1Jatqvrc pic.twitter.com/yULQ3kLnm0
— Naples Daily News (@ndn) May 25, 2015
— Naples Daily News (@ndn) May 25, 2015
"When it bit me, I felt like a pain, like a sharp pain and then I pulled my foot up," Alysa noted.
A runner, Whetro underwent surgery following the shark attack, which placed a graft on her Achilles tendon in order to repair the damage.
13yo's track career is on hold because of a #SharkAttack, but that is not stopping her sense of humor. @WFTV #WFTVat5 pic.twitter.com/SLmOMSVzeX
— Tim Barber (@TBarberWFTV) May 27, 2015
— Tim Barber (@TBarberWFTV) May 27, 2015
[Photo by Spencer Platt / Getty Images]
