2 Mountain Brook teens identified injured in shark attacks in Walton County

Officials in Walton County, Florida are patrolling the coast and urging beachgoers to be cautious in the water following two shark attacks Friday that injured three women, including two teenagers from Mountain Brook.

This morning, authorities released an update on the attack. A woman and one of the teenagers were seriously injured. One of the teenagers suffered minor injuries.

Mountain Brook City Manager Sam Gaston told AL.com that the two injured teenagers are from Mountain Brook.

The teenagers were identified by St. Luke’s Episcopal Church as Lulu Gribbin and McCray Faust.

“On Sunday, June 9th at 4 p.m. we will gather at the gazebo to pray for Lulu and McCray, their families and their recovery. All are welcome,” the church posted on Instagram.

South Walton Fire District lifeguards posted red and purple flags this morning as a visible warning.

“It is important to us that beachgoers recognize and understand the risks of open water as it relates not only to the dangers posed by the surf, but also to marine life,” officials wrote on the county’s X account this morning.

“We will have a boat in the Gulf and will be monitoring the shoreline throughout the day. We ask beachgoers to be aware of their surroundings and remember that we are guests in the Gulf. Stay alert.”

The first attack occurred around 1:20 p.m. on Friday, when a 45-year-old woman was bitten by a shark as she swam near Water Sound Beach.

She suffered serious injuries to her hip and left forearm and was flown by helicopter to a nearby trauma hospital. HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital told WJHG TV on Saturday that the woman’s condition has since stabilized.

The second incident occurred less than two hours later and four miles east of the first incident near Seacrest Beach. Authorities said it involved two female patients, about 15 years old. According to witnesses, the women were in waist-deep water with a group of friends when the incident occurred.

On Saturday morning, Walton County officials reported spotting a 14-foot hammerhead shark from a boat east of South County Highway 395 in Santa Rosa Beach, stressing that such sightings are not uncommon.

“We want to reiterate that sharks are always present in the Gulf,” the Walton County Sheriff’s Department said in a post on X. “Swimmers and beachgoers should exercise caution while swimming and be aware of their surroundings.”