Two shark attacks occur in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, within two days

At a beach in Florida, known as the “shark bite capital of the world,” two shark attacks occurred on two days during the holiday week.

On Friday, a 26-year-old man visiting New Smyrna Beach on Florida’s east coast was bitten on the foot while wading through about 5 feet of water in an inflatable boat, according to Tamra Malphurs, spokeswoman for Volusia County Beach Safety.

A day earlier, a 21-year-old man playing soccer in knee-deep water on the same beach was also bitten on the foot. Both victims were taken to hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.

Shark attacks are rare and have become less common in recent years, but more reports are expected as the likelihood of an attack increases during the summer months when more people spend time in the ocean.

Look at the numbers:How common are shark attacks in the United States? Take a close look at the latest data.

Shark attacks in the US so far this year

In addition to the attacks on New Smyrna Beach, two people were bitten by a shark on July 4 on South Padre Island, a popular tourist destination on the southeast coast of Texas.

A man in his 40s on a boat off the coast of Amelia Island in northeast Florida suffered a severe shark bite on his forearm. He was rescued in late June and flown to a hospital for further treatment.

That same month, a 14-year-old was attacked in North Topsail Beach, North Carolina, and Pirates of the Caribbean actor Tamayo Perry died after being fatally injured by a shark on Oahu, Hawaii.

Four people were injured on June 7 alone. Three were injured in shark attacks on Florida’s northern Gulf Coast. A 45-year-old woman was critically injured on a beach in Walton County, Florida. Two teenage girls were injured in waist-deep water about 4 miles from the first incident. Also on June 7, a 25-year-old woman was bitten by a shark off Oahu.

Florida leads the nation in shark attacks

According to the International Shark Attack File, there have been 1,632 unprovoked shark bites in the United States since 1837. Most of the attacks, 928, have occurred in Florida. This is largely due to the state’s 1,350-mile coastline, the longest in the United States. The state has abundant coastal prey for sharks and attracts tourists year-round who enjoy Florida’s beaches.

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