17-Year-Old Is 15th Shark Bite Victim Of Year In Volusia County
Friday, July 25, 2008 – updated: 1:21 pm EDT July 25, 2008
NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. -- There was yet another shark bite in Volusia County. A 17-year-old from Titusville was bitten Friday morning off New Smyrna Beach. It was the 15th bite of the year in Volusia County.
VIDEO: Teen Bitten By Shark While Surfing At New Smyrna Beach
MUST SEE: Photos Show Leaping Spinner Shark At New Smyrna
SHARK ATTACKS: Map Of Florida Confirmed Shark Attacks
ANIMAL NEWS: Read More Stories About Animals In The News
The boy was still in the emergency room early Friday afternoon, undergoing significant surgery. Hospital officials called it more than the average nip on the heel. They said the teen had serious cuts to the bottom of his foot, the top of his foot and his Achilles heel area.The attack happened near the inlet in New Smyrna Beach (see map) just before 9:00am. The 17-year-old from Titusville was surfing with his friends in an area where sharks were spotted just the day before. And it was just Wednesday that a 15-year-old Edgewater boy was bitten there after stepping on a shark.Beach Patrol said one of the reasons behind the latest attacks is a large run of bait fish in the water. Large schools of the fish are moving along the coast, as they often do in the mid-summer months, and sharks eager to feed are going after the schools of fish.It's also hot on the coast and the water is calm and that draws a lot of people into the ocean, which increases the chances there will be a bite.The boy's parents are at the hospital with him.
VIDEO: Teen Bitten By Shark While Surfing At New Smyrna BeachMUST SEE: Photos Show Leaping Spinner Shark At New SmyrnaSHARK ATTACKS: Map Of Florida Confirmed Shark AttacksANIMAL NEWS: Read More Stories About Animals In The NewsThe boy was still in the emergency room early Friday afternoon, undergoing significant surgery. Hospital officials called it more than the average nip on the heel. They said the teen had serious cuts to the bottom of his foot, the top of his foot and his Achilles heel area.The attack happened near the inlet in New Smyrna Beach (see map) just before 9:00am. The 17-year-old from Titusville was surfing with his friends in an area where sharks were spotted just the day before. And it was just Wednesday that a 15-year-old Edgewater boy was bitten there after stepping on a shark.Beach Patrol said one of the reasons behind the latest attacks is a large run of bait fish in the water. Large schools of the fish are moving along the coast, as they often do in the mid-summer months, and sharks eager to feed are going after the schools of fish.It's also hot on the coast and the water is calm and that draws a lot of people into the ocean, which increases the chances there will be a bite.The boy's parents are at the hospital with him.
Previous Stories:
- July 24, 2008: Officials: Shark Bites Teen's Left Foot
- July 10, 2008: Wave-Jumping Shark Caught In Photos At New Smyrna Beach
- May 19, 2008: Shark Attacks Likely To Rise As Number Of Sharks Increases
- May 7, 2008: Shark Bites 6-Year-Old's Leg Along New Smyrna Beach Coast
- May 5, 2008: Volusia County Dredging Could Be Impacting Shark Attack Numbers
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