Shark attack Florida: 3 swimmers injured in 2 separate shark attacks on beaches in Walton County, Florida

WALTON COUNTY, Fla. – Three swimmers, including two teenagers, were attacked by sharks in two separate incidents on beaches in Walton County, Florida, on Friday, authorities said.

A 45-year-old woman was swimming with her husband past a sandbar at Watersound Beach when she was bitten by a shark around 1:20 p.m., South Walton Fire District Chief Ryan Crawford told reporters.

The unidentified woman suffered “significant injuries” to the midsection of her body, and part of her left arm had to be amputated, Crawford said. She was taken to HCA Fort Walton-Destin Hospital in critical condition.

About 90 minutes later, a 15-year-old girl and a 17-year-old girl with a group of friends were injured by a shark in waist-deep water near the first sandbar near Seacrest Beach, just four miles from Watersound Beach, according to Crawford.

One victim was bitten by a shark and suffered “significant injuries” and was flown to Ascension Sacred Heart Pensacola Hospital in critical condition, Crawford said.

The second victim suffered lacerations to his foot and was taken to Ascension Bay Medical Center in stable condition.

Walton County Sheriff Michael A. Adkinson Jr. told reporters that authorities ordered the beaches closed after the first incident, but the order was not implemented in time before the attack on the teenagers.

Authorities also said it took about an hour and a half to replace the beach warning flags along the coast.

Sheriff Adkinson Jr. said the last shark attack in the county was in 2021 and the last shark death was in 2005.

“This is an anomaly … everything from the three victims to the point where it happens,” the sheriff said. “All we can do is react, control and mitigate what we can.”

Walton County authorities have contacted marine wildlife experts at Mote Marine in Pensacola, Florida, to assist in the investigation of the incident, Sheriff Adkinson Jr. said.

Walton County authorities reopened beaches Saturday with additional patrols in the water and red and purple flags to warn swimmers.

“It is important to us that beachgoers recognize and understand the dangers of open water as it relates not only to the dangers posed by the surf, but also to marine life. We ask that you remain alert at all times,” the South Walton Fire District said in a statement.

The Bay County Sheriff’s Office also issued a double red flag warning for its beaches on Saturday and had additional information on what might attract the sharks.

“Sheriff Tommy Ford spoke to (the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission) and has learned that baitfish are present near shore at this time of year, which may have contributed to the attacks,” the office said in a statement.

The shark attacks in Florida were not the only incidents reported on Friday.

According to Honolulu Emergency Services, a 25-year-old woman was hospitalized after being bitten by a shark off the north shore of Oahu around 2 p.m. local time.

“EMS met the patient at Haleiwa Small Boat Harbor, from where she was transported to shore. EMS treated her for multiple severe lacerations and transported her to the emergency room,” the agency said in a statement.

The condition of the unidentified victim was unknown on Saturday afternoon

ABC News’ Erica Morris and Amanda Morris contributed to this report.