Updated: Ohio man playing football in knee-deep water bitten by shark in New Smyrna Beach

Brenno Carillo, Daytona Beach News-Journal
Updated ·1 min read
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A 21-year-old Ohio man was bitten by a shark on Independence Day in New Smyrna Beach while playing football in knee-deep water, according to a Volusia County Beach Safety report.

Connor Graham Baker of Belpre, Ohio, sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment. The shark bit him on the right foot at the beach near Flagler Avenue.

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This is the third shark bite reported in Volusia County so far this year, according to Beach Safety Ocean Rescue Interim Director Tammy Malphurs. New Smyrna Beach is commonly known as the "shark bite capital of the world" because of the high number of incidents.

In 2023, there were 69 unprovoked shark attacks worldwide, according to the University of Florida’s International Shark Attack File.

Shark bites 2023 report: Shark bites are up in 2023, report says; Florida, Volusia County top list again

Of those 69 incidents, the U.S. led all other nations with 36; Florida led all U.S. states with 16; and Volusia County led all Florida counties with eight.

According to Gavin Naylor, director of the Florida Program for Shark Research with the Florida Museum of Natural History, beachgoers can take some steps to avoid getting bit by sharks. These include:

  • Don't wear shiny jewelry, as it catches the light like scales, which might make sharks mistake people for fish.

  • Don't go in the water where lots of baitfish are swimming around.

  • Don’t swim on your own, which makes you an easier target for sharks.

  • Don’t go swimming at dawn or dusk.

  • Don’t go swimming where there are fishermen fishing.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Ohio man bitten by shark in New Smyrna Beach