Beaches reopened after woman loses hand and two people injured

Two teenagers and a woman were injured in two shark attacks less than two hours apart in the Florida Panhandle on Friday afternoon. The woman lost her left forearm and suffered “significant injuries” to other parts of her body, officials said at a news conference Friday afternoon.

Both incidents occurred between Miramar Beach and Panama City Beach on the Gulf of Mexico.

Beaches in Walton and Bay counties were closed Friday and reopened Saturday morning under warnings. The Walton County Sheriff’s Office and Florida Fish and Wildlife monitored the shoreline by boat throughout the weekend. Panama City Beach police reported Saturday from the sheriff’s office helicopter that they observed “a conspicuous presence of sharks, particularly bull sharks” near the first incident.

“We want to reiterate that sharks are always present in the Gulf,” WCSO said in a Facebook post. “Swimmers and beachgoers should exercise caution while swimming and remain aware of their surroundings at all times.”

What happened in the shark attacks in Walton County, Florida?

On Friday at around 1:20 p.m., a 45-year-old woman and her husband were swimming past the first sandbar near Founders Lane in Watersound Beach, west of Seacrest Beach, when she was bitten.

“She suffered significant injuries to her midsection and pelvis,” said Ryan Crawford, fire chief of the South Walton Fire District, at a press conference on Friday, “and her left forearm had to be amputated.”

About an hour and a half later, just before 3 p.m., two girls, ages 15 and 17, were swimming with friends in waist-deep water near the Sandy Shores Court area of Seacrest Beach, about four miles east of the first bite. The girls swam just inside the first sandbar, Crawford said, in similar proximity to shore as during the previous attack.

“Victim one sustained significant injuries to an upper and lower extremity,” Crawford said. “Victim number two sustained lacerations to the right lower extremity.”

How are the victims of the shark attacks in Florida doing? What is their condition?

The woman was treated at the scene by paramedics and taken by helicopter to HCA Fort Walton-Destin Hospital. She is in critical condition and has serious injuries, including the loss of her left forearm.

Several beachgoers had medical training, Walton County Sheriff Michael Adkinson said, and at least two were nurses. “Those people jumped in and started providing care and assistance,” he said, as the deputy and South Walton crew arrived.

Adkinson said he and Crawford decided to close beaches within a few miles of the attack, but before that could be done, the second attack occurred.

One of the girls was taken by helicopter to Ascension Sacred Heart in Pensacola. She was in critical condition Friday, with severe injuries to her upper and lower extremities that required a tourniquet at the scene, Crawford said.

The other girl was taken to Ascension Bay Medical Center in Panama City Beach. She was in stable condition but had lacerations on her lower right extremity.

Why did one or more sharks bite people while swimming in Walton County?

The exact cause is unknown. When a shark bites a human, it is usually because it is curious about the splashing water or is startled by a swimmer or surfer crossing its path. Some sharks may bite to defend territory, similar to a dog barking at people in its yard. Shark bites, while potentially horrific, are rare.

Panama City Beach police reported seeing several bull sharks near the sandbar during the first incident. Bay County Sheriff Tommy Ford said in a news release that according to the FWC, “baitfish tend to be near shore this time of year, which may have been a contributing factor to the attacks.”

Where did the shark attacks in Florida occur? Where is Watersound Beach?

Watersound Beach is a community on the coast of South Walton between Seacrest Beach and Seagrove Beach.

Where is Seacrest Beach, Florida?

Seacrest Beach is further east on Highway 30-A.

Are beaches in Walton County, Florida, open today after shark attacks?

Beaches reopened Saturday morning under individual red and purple flags to indicate dangerous water conditions and potentially dangerous marine life.

Yellow flags have been flying in Walton County since Monday morning, indicating moderate surf and/or currents.

Are the beaches in Bay County, Florida open today?

Neighboring Bay County also closed its beaches on Friday and reopened them on Saturday morning with individual red and purple flags flying.

As of Monday morning, Panama City Beach continues to have these flags flying, indicating dangerous surf conditions and dangerous marine life. This means that while swimming is permitted, you should swim at your own risk and exercise extreme caution.

How many shark attacks have there been in Florida this year?

According to trackingsharks.com, the Walton County incidents are the first three shark-related incidents in Florida in 2024. Typically, about 100 bites are reported worldwide each year, the site says.

How many shark bites were there worldwide in 2023?

The Florida Museum of Natural History’s International Shark Attack File examined 120 suspected shark-human interactions worldwide in 2023. Of these, 69 were confirmed to be unprovoked shark bites on humans and 22 were found to be provoked bites.

Breakdown of 2023 reports worldwide:

Unprovoked bites: 69
Provoked bites: 22
Boat bites: 9
Carrion: 2 (postmortem bites)
Public aquariums: 1
No assignment could be made: 1
Not confirmed: 16

Florida remains the shark bite capital of the USA

Florida continues to be the region with the most shark bites.

In 2023, 16 bites were confirmed—although none were fatal. That’s less than the historical average of 19 incidents per year in Florida.

Florida: 16 bites, none fatal
Hawaii: 8 bites, 1 fatal
New York: 4 bites, none fatal
California: 2 bites, 1 fatal
North Carolina: 3 bites, none fatal
South Carolina: 2 bites, none fatal
New Jersey: 1 bite, none fatal

Top 10: Confirmed unprovoked shark attacks in Florida from 1882 to today

Volusia County: 351
Brevard County: 158
Palm Beach County: 83
St. John’s County: 45
Duval County: 46
Martin County: 41
St. Lucie County: 39
Indian River County: 22
Monroe County: 21
Miami-Dade County: 20

How do I avoid shark bites?

Swim with a buddy. Most sharks are more likely to approach a single person.
Stay close to the shore.
Be careful in the area between sandbars and near steep drop-offs, as these are popular hangouts for sharks.
Stay out of the water at dawn or dusk as this is when sharks are more active and feeding.
Avoid shiny jewelry or reflective swimwear that may resemble the shine of fish scales.
Avoid areas where fishing is taking place or where there are known sewage or drainage systems. Stay away from areas where diving seabirds live.
Be careful in murky water. Some species of sharks may also not be able to see you well and confusion may arise.
Try not to splash too much, especially in one spot. Sharks may check you out to see if you’re a fish in distress.
If you spot a shark, exit the water slowly and calmly.

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