Teen girl bitten by shark while boogie boarding
A 16-year-old girl was bitten by a shark while boogie boarding in Florida, police say.
The teen was bitten while in the Atlantic Ocean outside her hotel in Amelia Island on Friday, according to the Nassau County Sheriff's office, and she suffered bites to her foot and ankle, CNN reported.
The girl, who was vacationing from South Florida, made it to the pool area of the hotel, where first responders rushed to her aid, Sheriff Bill Leeper of Nassau County told CNN. She was then sent to a local hospital where she received several stitches.
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How common? Shark attacks: How common are they?
A trio of sharks killed a California college student snorkeling in the Bahamas June 26. A week earlier, an 8-year-old boy was attacked by a shark off North Carolina but was expected to make a full recovery.
As of July 11, there have been 45 shark attack bites reported and verified in 2019, according to Tracking Sharks – 21 were reported in the U.S.; 8 occurred in Florida.
The Tracking Sharks website advises against swimming during sunrise or sunset, swimming in clear water and avoiding areas where fresh and saltwater meet. The site offers various other tips on its Shark Attack Prevention page.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Shark attack: Teen girl bitten while boogie boarding in Florida
