Shark bites surfer in the face in New Smyrna Beach

A South Carolina man was bitten in the face by a shark at New Smyrna Beach Tuesday morning, Beach Safety Ocean Rescue officials said.

It was the seventh shark bite at Volusia County beaches this year.

Mark Summerset, 38, suffered about a 2-inch laceration above his right cheek and was taken to Advent Health New Smyrna Beach to be treated for the non-life-threatening injury, said Ocean Rescue Capt. Alex Miller.

Miller said Summerset was surfing at the jetty in New Smyrna Beach when he was bitten at 7:50 a.m.

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Summerset reported he jumped off his board on a wave and encountered a marine animal underwater that nipped at his face, Miller said.

"He did not see what it was but the assumption was that it was a shark," Miller said.

On Tuesday beach officials also flew red flags to warn swimmers of the high risk of rip currents.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Shark bite in Florida leave surfer with wounds to the face