Two central Alabama girls injured in shark attack Friday in Walton County, Florida

WALTON COUNTY, Fla. (WBRC) – After two shark attacks were reported in Walton County, Florida on Friday, WBRC has learned that two of the three victims of the attack are from the Birmingham area.

According to a post from St. Luke’s Birmingham, Lulu Gribbin and McCray Faust were seriously injured in the attack. The church says a community-wide prayer service for the two girls will be held at 4 p.m. on Sunday, June 9, in the gazebo.

At around 1:20 p.m., a 45-year-old woman reportedly swam just past the first sandbar at Watersound Beach, where she sustained severe injuries to her abdomen and pelvis and had to have her left forearm amputated. The woman was immediately treated on the beach before being airlifted to HCA Fort Walton Beach Medical Center in critical condition.

According to the South Walton Fire District, the second attack, believed to be by Gribbin and McCray, occurred at 2:56 p.m. in the Seacrest Beach area, about four miles from the site of the first attack. Authorities say the girls were just inside the first sandbar in about waist-deep water.

“Victim number one sustained significant injuries to an upper and lower extremity, both of which required the use of tourniquets. This victim was transported to Ascension Sacred Heart Pensacola via Okaloosa Med Flight in critical condition. Victim number two sustained lacerations to the right lower extremity and right foot. This victim was transported by fire department personnel to Ascension Bay Medical Center where he is reported to be in stable condition.”

On Saturday, the Panama City Beach Police Department and Bay County Sheriff’s Office conducted an aerial search where they observed a noticeable presence of sharks, particularly bull sharks, near the first sandbar.

Get news alerts in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store or subscribe to our email newsletter here.

All rights reserved.