What you should know so far about shark attacks in 2024 – Deseret News

Shark Week has officially begun and John Cena is hosting the most aquatic festival of the year.

The popular show will provide shark lovers with hours of entertainment this week. Viewers often celebrate the annual event with shark parties, food and trips to the pool or beach.

Shark Week has an educational purpose, giving the public the opportunity to appreciate conservation efforts and correct misconceptions about these toothy giants.

But as you watch the bloody mouth of a great white shark or the fins of a hammerhead shark slash through the water on your screen, you may be reminded that these majestic and deadly creatures have a reputation – for better or for worse.

Several shark attacks have already been reported this year in Florida, California and Hawaii.

Whether you’re a shark fan or not, here are some of the craziest shark attacks that made headlines in 2024.

Shark attacks in 2024

Most recently, two people were bitten by a shark on South Padre Island in Texas on July 4. Local authorities told the Associated Press that they believed a shark over two meters long was responsible for the attacks.

One of the two victims was severely bitten. Two other beachgoers also encountered the shark but did not suffer any serious injuries.

According to USA Today, two people were also bitten by sharks at New Smyrna Beach in Florida during the holiday week. A 21-year-old was bitten on the foot while wading through knee-deep water.

The next day, a 26-year-old man was also bitten on the foot while paddling in an inflatable boat in just one and a half meters of water. Both were taken to hospital for treatment.

There were three shark attacks in Florida in June. A man was bitten in East Florida and is in critical condition due to blood loss. According to the BBC, local officials found the man on his boat with a heavily bleeding arm.

An officer placed a tourniquet around the man’s leg and brought him to shore, from where he was taken to the hospital.

In two previous shark attacks on Florida’s Gulf Coast, three swimmers were injured. One woman had to have an arm amputated and suffered a life-threatening injury to her hip.

Two young girls were also attacked. One of them suffered non-life-threatening injuries to her feet, the other suffered serious injuries to her hands and legs.

USA Today reported on other shark attacks that have occurred this year, many of which occurred in June.

A 14-year-old boy was bitten on the leg in North Carolina in late June. Rescue workers were able to stabilize the teenager and repair his leg at the nearest trauma center.

Tamayo Perry, lifeguard and actor in “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides,” died in a shark attack off the north coast of Oahu in late June.

In early June, a 25-year-old woman was also attacked by a shark on Oahu. Her condition worsened due to numerous injuries and she was admitted to a trauma hospital.

A man was hospitalized on June 2 for injuries to his upper body and arm. He was swimming off a beach north of Torrey Pines State Park in California when he was bitten. Although the injuries were significant, they were not life-threatening.

In March, another shark attack occurred on Oahu, where an 11-year-old girl was reportedly bitten on her left foot. In another attack just two days later, a shark bit off the tail of a surfboard in Waikīkī.

The International Shark Attack File confirmed 69 unprovoked shark bites and 22 provoked bites on humans worldwide in 2023. Although the number was slightly higher than in previous years, ISAF said these fluctuations were to be expected.

The United States has the highest number of unprovoked shark bites in the world. Florida leads the United States with 16 cases, accounting for 44% of unprovoked shark bites in the United States and 23% of cases worldwide.

Shark Week 2024

According to Entertainment Weekly, Discovery’s annual show “Shark Week” will be hosted by John Cena this year.

“I usually spend Shark Week from my couch – with lots of snacks – but this year I’m so excited to host the week dedicated to the endlessly fascinating action heroes of the ocean,” Cena said in a press release. “It’s a wild week full of shocking new footage, new discoveries and lots of teeth.”

The 2024 season began Sunday night and runs through Saturday, July 13. This year’s “Shark Week” will reportedly feature 21 hours of “shark-related shows,” with titles including “Great White Serial Killer: Sea of ​​​​Blood,” “Monster Hammerheads: Species X,” “Alien Sharks: Ghosts of Japan” and “Expedition Unknown: Shark Wrecks of WWII.”

Viewers can watch the show on Discovery, where they can also find the full weekly schedule, shark facts, podcast episodes and the latest videos.