A Lake Worth resident is recuperating after a shark bit him as he sat in the water at New Smyrna Beach. This was the second shark attack at the beach over the weekend, and the third in Volusia County this year.
The 48-year-old man was bitten near the south jetty around 2 p.m. on Saturday, according to Volusia County Beach Safety officials. The shark bite resulted in minor back injuries, but the man chose not to visit the hospital.
The previous day, a 21-year-old DeLand resident was surfing in the same vicinity when a shark attacked him. The attack resulted in serious foot injuries, and the man was transported to the hospital by Volusia County Emergency Medical Services.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) insists that shark bites are exceedingly rare in Florida waters and are typically not fatal when they do happen. The FWC suggests that beachgoers swim in groups, stay in areas with lifeguards, and avoid swimming during dusk and dawn when sharks are most active.
While sharks prefer to feed on fish and marine mammals, they have been known to attack humans out of curiosity or confusion. This is especially true if a shark sees a human splashing in the water.