3 people were bitten by sharks off the coast of Florida last Friday – Deseret News

In a very rare and shocking incident, three people were attacked by sharks off the coast of Florida last Friday. According to the Washington Post, the first attack occurred around 1:20 p.m. when a woman “was bitten near WaterSound Beach.”

About an hour and a half later, two young girls were attacked and injured.

3 people injured in shark attack in Florida

The first victim, a 45-year-old woman, suffered severe injuries to her arm and abdomen that required amputation of part of her left arm, according to USA Today. The other two victims – 15- and 17-year-old girls – “were attacked less than 4 miles up the coast in Fort Walton while swimming in waist-deep water with a group of friends.”

While one girl suffered only minor injuries to her foot, the other suffered far more serious wounds. According to The Guardian, Lulu Gribbin, one of the teenage girls, lost two-thirds of her blood in her body and left hand.

Doctors also had to amputate part of her right leg. Lulu’s mother, Ann Blair Gribbin, said in her details of the attack that Lulu was temporarily put on a ventilator before she could breathe on her own.

“When she settled in, her first words to us were, ‘I did it,'” Gribbin said. “And boy, did she.”

Gavin Naylor, director of the shark research program at the Florida Museum of Natural History, told the Washington Post that the shark attacks were likely due to “the presence of menhaden fish.”

According to reports, “sharks were chasing and eating the small fish while dozens swam close to shore.” Naylor suspects that some beachgoers may have been in their way.

According to the Florida Museum of Natural History, shark attacks — especially ones like this — are relatively rare. Last year, their International Shark Attack File confirmed 69 “unprovoked” shark bites and 22 “provoked” bites on humans.

How to protect yourself from a shark attack

Since summer is a popular time of year for beachgoers, it can be helpful to know some safety tips before heading into the water. The Florida Museum’s International Shark Attack File offers some suggestions in case a shark is nearby.

• Stay close to the shore.
• Swim with a friend.
• Avoid swimming near schools of fish.
• Do not wear jewelry.
• Don’t swim at dawn or dusk. Gavin Naylor told the Washington Post that “most shark bites are usually reported in the morning or evening, when their prey fish are most active.”
• Avoid spraying too heavily.

If a shark comes too close to you, follow these tips:

• Get out of the water as quickly as possible.
• Maintain eye contact with the shark.
• If a shark tries to attack, “slap it on the snout and push it away,” says the International Shark Attack File.
• Aim for the eyes and gills, the more sensitive parts of the shark’s face.