A man was fishing in Florida when a shark bit him, severely injuring his arm, officials said.
The man, who is in his 40s, was on a boat at the time of the attack, which unfolded around 11 a.m. Friday at West Rock near the port of Fernandina, which is north of Jacksonville near the Florida-Georgia border, Nassau County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Alicia Tarancon said.
A responding deputy boarded the man’s boat and applied a tourniquet to his right arm to slow the bleeding, Tarancon said.
The deputy then drove the boat to shore, where rescue crews were waiting, Tarancon said.
The victim was airlifted to a hospital in critical condition, Tarancon said. He’s expected to recover, Tarancon added.
This attack comes after a well-known surfer and lifeguard was killed by a shark in Hawaii on Sunday.
Tamayo Perry, 49, had been a lifeguard with Honolulu Ocean Safety since 2016. He was a local surf coach and competed for years in the Pipeline Master Trials, according to his official bio on his coaching site. Perry appeared in the 2002 movie “Blue Crush,” along with episodes of “Hawaii Five-O” and “The Bridge,” according to IMDb.
“The world knew Tamayo as a surfer and an actor, but to those who knew him best, he was a man of deep faith … now taken too soon,” his wife, Emilia Perry, told ABC News in an exclusive interview. “I feel so upset and devastated. But I also have a weird calmness in my heart knowing that he’s in a better place.”
Click here for what to know about staying safe from sharks.
ABC News’ Kori Skillman contributed to this report.
A man fishing in Florida had a terrifying encounter with a shark recently, highlighting the dangers that lurk in the waters off the coast of the Sunshine State. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the potential risks that come with engaging in water activities, especially in areas known for shark populations.
The man, whose name has not been released, was fishing from a small boat off the coast of Florida when he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his leg. He looked down to see a large shark latched onto his calf, its razor-sharp teeth sinking into his flesh. In a panic, he tried to fight off the predator, but the shark refused to let go.
Fortunately, the man was able to free himself from the shark’s grip and make it back to shore, where he was rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment. He suffered deep lacerations and puncture wounds to his leg, but is expected to make a full recovery.
Shark attacks are relatively rare in Florida, but they do happen from time to time. The state is home to a wide variety of shark species, including bull sharks, tiger sharks, and great whites, all of which have been known to attack humans in the past. While most encounters between sharks and humans are non-fatal, they can still be extremely traumatic and leave lasting physical and emotional scars.
Experts recommend taking precautions when swimming or fishing in shark-infested waters, such as avoiding areas where sharks are known to frequent, not swimming alone, and refraining from wearing shiny jewelry or brightly colored clothing that could attract sharks. It’s also important to stay calm and avoid thrashing around if you do encounter a shark, as this can trigger their predatory instincts.
Despite the risks, many people continue to enjoy fishing and other water activities in Florida’s beautiful coastal waters. While shark attacks are a rare occurrence, it’s important to always be aware of your surroundings and take necessary precautions to ensure your safety. By being mindful of the potential dangers and respecting the wildlife that inhabits these waters, you can reduce your risk of encountering a shark and enjoy all that Florida’s beaches have to offer.
