Shark bites Missouri teen in Daytona Beach Shores, 4th incident in 6 days

Patricio G. Balona, Daytona Beach News-Journal
·2 min read

A 14-year-old teen from Missouri suffered a shark bite in Daytona Beach Shores on Wednesday, the fourth such incident reported in Volusia County since July 4, officials said.

The shark bite was reported at 11:50 a.m. north of the Dunlawton Avenue approach, dispatchers said.

Officials with Volusia County Beach Safety Ocean Rescue placed the location of the incident in the 3300 block of Atlantic Avenue.

Ocean Rescue Capt. Alex Miller said the boy was standing in knee deep water when he was bitten on the left foot.

The teen's injuries were not life-threatening, and he was transported to the hospital for treatment, Miller said.

Fourth shark bite in six days

Three other shark bites have been reported, occurring days apart starting on Independence Day.

The first shark bite occurred on July 4 when 21-year-old Connor Graham Baker of Belpre, Ohio, was bitten while playing football in knee-deep water in New Smyrna Beach. His injuries were not life-threatening and he was taken to a nearby hospital. The shark bit him on the right foot.

The following day, July 5, a second shark bite was also reported in New Smyrna Beach, a popular surfing spot.

A 26-year-old man visiting from Sarasota was bitten on his left foot while wading in an inner tube in approximately five feet of water, beach officials said.

And on Monday, the third shark bite was reported in Ponce Inlet when a Flagler County teen on a drill for Junior Lifeguard Camp jumped into the ocean and landed on a shark that bit him on the right calf, beach officials said.

Witnesses said the teen dove into the water and landed on the 4- to 5-foot black tip shark, a species common to Volusia County waters, said Volusia County Beach Safety Ocean Rescue Interim Director Tamra Malphurs on Tuesday.

That incident, occurred at 11:15 a.m. at 5000 South Atlantic Ave. north of the jetty, Malphurs said.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: 4 shark bites in 6 days: Missouri teen bitten in Daytona Beach Shores