A teenage girl was seriously injuredin ashark attack in Floridaon Thursday, marking the second reported attack in just over a weekacross the nation. Swimmers are also advised to avoid sand bars because sharks often congregate there. Shark attack survivor Addison Bethea and her brother Rhett Willingham spoke to CNN from her hospital bed on Monday, July 4. Its likely that fatalities are down because some areas have recently implemented rigorous beach safety protocols, especially in Australia., Science:University of Florida study shows human pee could play key role in seagrass restoration, More:Animal rights group files complaint against UF research ending in dog deaths. MORE: Florida teen attacked by shark takes first steps after having leg amputated, family says. The overall reduction in the number of bites last year may reflect thedocumented global declineof shark populations. Especially something thats bigger than them., While shark attack may summon up images of the massive great white shark from Jaws, Hueter points out that there are hundreds of species of shark, all totally different from each other.. Addison Bethea, a 17-year-old high school student from Perry, Florida, was scalloping on Keaton Beach when she was attacked by a 9-foot-long shark on June 30. Despite there being three shark attacks in Florida in less than a week, experts say there's no need for concern. 1, 2022 at 4:57 PM EDT TAYLOR COUNTY, Fla. (WCTV) - A 17-year-old girl attacked by a shark at Keaton Beach Thursday has a long road to . Of these . Heather West, 42, was snorkeling with friends Jan. 22 off Loggerhead Key in the Dry Tortugas National Park. "We were scalloping for about two hours and we went to the last spot, obviously for only like 15 minutes, and we were going towards the boat and I felt like a tug," she said. A relative frantically entered the surf and battered the shark until it released the bloodied girl from its grip. He's one of the three people in Florida who've been attacked by sharks in the last week. Roughly 40% of the 73 unprovoked shark bites reported globally stemmed from incidents that occurred in Florida. Woman swimming with shark swimming beneath her - Courtesy: Shutterstock - Image by Willyam Bradberry . BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) The remains of a man who had disappeared in southern Argentina earlier this month appear to have been found inside a . CASE: GSAF 2022.10.10.R DATE: Reported October 10, 2022 LOCATION: Key Largo, Monroe County, Florida, USA NAME: Malec Mata DESCRIPTION: A 15-year-old male from South Florida BACKGROUND DEPTH OF WATER: Waist-deep NARRATIVE: Malec Mata was casting bait when the small nurse shark got wrapped up in their fishing line. Two fatal attacks occurred on the same day in Egypts Red Sea, where shark encounters are considered rare. "It can sometimes seem as if there is an up tick, especially when there are three or four bites in rapid succession. There have only been four bites in the last decade (2012, 2015, and two in 2018). Data from the University of Florida has revealed that there were 57 unprovoked shark bites worldwide in 2022, with only five of them fatal, while there were 73 in 2021 with nine deaths. A relaxing day at the beach quickly took a turn for 33-year-old Bryan Olivares. On January 22, 2022, 42-year-old Heather West was snorkeling near an uninhabited tropical island of Loggerhead Key when a 6-foot lemon shark grabbed her foot and it became another Florida shark attack. According to the University of Florida's International Shark Attack File, there were 57 unprovoked bites in 2022, most of which occurred in the U.S. and Australia. While the numbers represent an increase from 2020, when fewer people went to the beach amid the pandemic, they are still on par with the most recent five-year average of 72 incidents annually. The teenager who survived a shark attack last week near Tallahassee, Florida, now faces an upcoming surgery to amputate one of her legs. Advertisement. At least 10 people have died in the wake of a severe weather system bringing fierce winds, damaging tornadoes and flash flooding to the U.S. South and Midwest. her on Twitter@nataliealund. But recently, New York has been making headlines for a spate of dangerous encounters that have rattled New Yorkers and triggered beach closures. There were 7 different attacks, but the good news is most of them were minor attacks, some only requiring basic first aid. Shark grabs Florida snorkeler's foot; teen bitten by shark at Cocoa Beach. If you get in their way, or theyre swimming through, because theyre moving fast, the defensive reaction on their part is to bite, Hueter said. 17-year-old seriously injured in shark attack off Florida 01:37. . The chances of being bitten by a shark remain incredibly low. Sweltering hot temperatures this summer means more people and sharks at the beach. The ISAF lists a number of suggestions to reduce the probability of being bitten by a shark, including to avoid splashing in open water because sharks may mistake that activity for a struggling fish. South Africa, which averages a few bites a year, had two unprovoked attacks in 2022, both of which were fatal and likely caused by white sharks. I'm lucky, but I don't know what is going to happen," Olivares said. As Schreiber explains, when sharks do attack humans, they're likely just confusing a person for food. Climate change plays a role, but is not the biggest driver at the moment of shark bites, Hueter says. "They've been there all along. He was wading in waist-deep water with his dad off the coast of Daytona Beach last Monday when he says a shark bit his foot. Conservation efforts have brought back the once overfished bait fish that sharks feed on, Hueter says. Published: Feb. 28, 2023 at 10:07 AM PST. Hueter says that as our oceans become healthier, beachgoers may have to adjust to more sharks in the water. Taylor County Sheriff's Office reported the attack took place at 3 p.m. at Keaton Beach, about 75 miles southeast of Tallahassee. Its likely that fatalities are down because some areas have recently implemented rigorous beach safety protocols, especially in Australia., Of the 108 alleged shark-human interactions in 2022, it confirmed 32 provoked bites (when a human initiates interaction with a shark in some way) compared to the 57 unprovoked bites (no human provocation of the shark). Florida is home to a variety of sharks, including bull sharks, lemon sharks, giant hammerhead and tiger sharks. A Texas woman is still recovering from a shark attack that occurred in the Florida Keys last week. Heavy rainfall, storms, La Nia events, heatwaves, and COVID-19 - how that may have restricted access to the beach - depending on where they live; there are a range of factors. 0:00. March 3 (UPI) -- The lesion that President Joe Biden had removed from his chest last month during his physical was a common type of skin cancer, his physician said Friday. That statistic sounds terrifying, but the ISAF reports . Marine coasts and estuaries are a favorite feeding ground for a variety of fishes, which take advantage of the tides to scope out new food and rummage near the shallow seafloor for plants and invertebrates, the ISAF continues. Despite having an infamous reputation, sharks do not actively seek out humans. Migrant woman dies after U.S. Coast Guard stops vessel carrying 54. Thats when bites occur.. There's young sharks being born, but in the grand scheme of things, they've been there for years and years," said Chris Schreiber, Director of Animal Care for the Florida Aquarium. Pittsburgh woman missing for 31 years found alive in Puerto Rico, School shooting survivor has emotional audition on "American Idol". (June 22), Beware of sharks swimming closer to shore, Researchers warn of great white sharks near Cape Cod, a shark attacked a swimmeralong the central California coast, The California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Gavin Naylor, director of the Florida Programme for Shark Research, said there are multiple factors at play causing the high number of shark attacks in the state. A 10-year-old boy was attacked by a shark while snorkeling in Florida and needed part of his leg amputated to "save his life," relatives said. "Then it tried to drag me underwater because we were in like six feet of water," she added. When you enter the water, remember that there's always a risk of a shark encounter, along with other predators. The group was off Little Africa Reef, around 70 miles from Key . The group was at Little Africa Reef, which is 70 miles away from Key West.. Through concerted fisheries management effort and fishery efforts, sharks are rebuilt, so numbers are going back up.. Shark attacks and shark bites are relatively rare when compared to the amount of people enjoying the waters each year. Officials said the teen was scalloping with members of her family when the shark attacked. Many attacks are cases of mistaken identity, occurring under conditions of poor water visibility, according to the Florida Museum of Natural History. They ventured into the low visibility water with pool noodles to play in the 1 1/2 to 2-foot waves. Addison Bethea, a teenage girl, was scalloping with her family off Keaton Beach in Taylor County . . Most recently, a surfer was attacked by a six foot shark at New Smyrna Beach on July 10, the Daytona Beach News Journal reported. The girl was scalloping with her family nearGrassy Island, just off Keaton Beach, in water approximately 5 feet deep, a TCSOincident summary stated. Join half a million readers enjoying Newsweek's free newsletters. People everywhere from New York to California suffered gruesome injuries that were a result of an un THE LATEST: 'She is a trooper': Doctors will amputate Taylor Co. girl's leg following shark attack. March 3 (UPI) -- The Treasury Department Friday sanctioned three Russian individuals for human rights abuses against a prominent Russian opposition leader. July 1 (UPI) -- A teenage girl has lost her leg, but is alive, after she was attacked by a shark along the coast in northwestern Florida on Thursday, authorities said. . Just two days after Olivares was bitten, 13-year-old Fischer Hricko had similar experience. Naylor also noted that in the months before June there are fewer people in the water, so there "are very few bites.". When it comes to shark attacks, Florida typically tops global charts. Interestingly, of Floridas 28 unprovoked shark bites, 17 took place in Volusia County, which includes Daytona Beach. In all, 72 shark bites have been reported off Treasure Coast beaches since 1998, according to TCPalm.com's shark attack database. Recounting details about the incident during a recent interview at the hospital where she is currently receiving treatment, Bethea explained how her older brother, firefighter Rhett Willingham, managed to fend off the shark and provide emergency medical support after pulling her to safety. Last year, about 60% of all unprovoked shark attacks in the United States -- and almost 40% of all attacks worldwide -- occurred in . Not only that, but 2020 and 2022 saw the fewest number of reported incidents in the last decade. Shark attacks are somewhat common near the beaches in Florida. Before 2022, there were only 12 recorded unprovoked bites in New Yorks history, including four from the past decade, according to the International Shark Attack File at the Florida Museum of Natural History. In 2021, there were 73 shark attacks worldwide, nine of which were fatal. I write about the latest, exciting research on sharks worldwide! The good news is that, while there are more shark bites in Volusia County than anywhere else in the world, most arent serious. The Taylor County Sheriffs Office warned swimmers to exercise caution in the wake of the incident, advising kids to never swim alone and to avoid making sudden movements in the water. In 2021, there were almost 50 unprovoked shark attacks in the United States -- more than any other country. "What's changed is our ability to get really good footage.". A Psychologist Offers 2 Tips To Help You Succeed In A New Romance, NASAs New Moon Rocket Crackles 40 Million Times Greater Than A Bowl Of Rice Krispies, Say Scientists, A Psychologist Gives 3 Tips To Help You Design Your Perfect Work Cave, My TikTok On Friendship Breakups Went Viral. . By comparison, on Floridas Gulf coast, sharks have lots more territory to spread out and there are fewer human-shark encounters, Hueter says. 10 Sharks Near Central Florida Beaches WATCH: Sharks biting alligators, the most epic lion battles, and MUCH more. Thats also where the man from New Jersey was bitten this week. Florida once again reported more shark attacks than anywhere else in the world, new data released by the University of Florida's International Shark Attack File shows, while the U.S. and Australia saw the most unprovoked shark attacks in 2022. Thats what we want to go back to: a healthy, balanced ecosystem.. That is, amazingly, 72% of the total worldwide attacks for . After all, the ocean is their home, and shark attacks in Florida are somewhat more likely than in other locations due to the large influx of tourists every year to the state. Tuesday 16 August 2022 14:34. Corrections and clarifications: A previous version of this headline and story cited a report about the girl's injuries that has since been retracted. To cut costs, Amazon delays completion of second headquarters, closes retail stores. A teenage girl was seriously injured in ashark attack at Keaton Beach around 3 p.m. Thursday afternoon, according to the Taylor County Sheriff's Office. It was the first shark bite of the year in the area. A teen bitten by a shark off the coast of the Florida Panhandle last week is recovering in the hospital and surrounded by her family. It wasn't immediately known exactly what type of shark attacked the girl, but authorities said it was about 9 feet long. Sharks then visit the area to feed on the high numbers of baitfish. | 27018 Views | 11 min read. Gavin Naylor, director of the Florida Program for Shark Research at Florida Museum, told Newsweek that despite this apparent flurry of attacks, the shark bite numbers for this year "are actually in line with trends over the past few years.". Florida teen Addison Bethea speaks to CNN's Brianna Keilar after surviving a shark attack off the state's Gulf Coast while scalloping in shallow waters. Theres reason to believe juveniles are more prone to bite, because theyre less experienced and may feel more threatened because theyre smaller, Hueter said. The one notable exception was in 2020, as COVID-19-related travel restrictions and beach closures likely resulted in fewer encounters between humans and sharks. DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - A 33-year-old man is recovering after he was bitten on the foot by a shark off the coast of Daytona Beach. Did you encounter any technical issues? A Florida teen is in critical condition Friday after losing part of her leg in a shark attack at a popular beach, officials said. We want to inspire you to explore new destinations, discover new experiences and savor the journey. Since 2013, there has been an average of 74 unprovoked bites per year. International Shark Attack Files Florida Museum of Natural History Dickinson Hall 1659 Museum Rd PO Box 117800 University of Florida . "I had so many people comment on my Instagram saying, 'I'm so scared of the ocean now.' Lindsay French, manager of the International Shark Attack File at the Florida Museum of Natural History at the University of Florida, gives tips about what to do if you are bitten by a shark. Changing the environment such that sharks are drawn to the area in search of their natural food source might prompt them to bite humans when they otherwise wouldnt., As in previous years, the U.S. had the highest number of bites, and Florida again had more reported bites than anywhere else on Earth. Shark attacks 2022: How many shark attacks took place in the United States?,A SERIES of shark attacks and sightings have been reported throughout the United States in 2022. A 21-year-old man was bitten by a shark in a part of Florida unofficially known as the Shark Bite Capital of the World earlier this week. A list view of 2022 shark attack bites based on the date of the incident. Still, experts say that a combination of conservation efforts and climate change may have something to do with the increase in attacks in New York. July tends to be when great whites appear in earnest as the capes waters warm, with sightings peaking from August through October, Megan Winton, a scientist with the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy, said during a news conference Wednesday at the organizations offices in Chatham, Massachusetts. If youre reading the newspaper, scrolling your various socail media feeds, or watching the news, it seems like shark attacks are a common occurrence during the summer months - no matter the hemisphere you are in! She was airlifted to Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare and was in surgery around 6 p.m., said TCSO spokesperson Gina Deeson. The country is warmer than its ever been. March 3 (UPI) -- The Interior Department said Friday that it was taking new steps to restore the declining American bison population. March 3 (UPI) -- The legal team representing former President Donald Trump has formally requested a six-month delay in the fraud civil case filed against him by New York Attorney General Letitia James. They advise swimmers to avoid making erratic movements in the water, swimming in the ocean alone and swimming near fishermen and large schools of fish. When this happens the news stories get amplified, generating the false perception that 'things are different this year.' July 1 (UPI) -- A teenage girl has lost her leg, but is alive, after she was attacked by a shark along the coast in northwestern Florida on Thursday, authorities said. Enter your email in the box below to get the most mind-blowing animal stories and videos delivered directly to your inbox every day. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. COCOA BEACH, Florida - Florida accounted for 39% of all shark attacks in the U.S. and 28% of the world's total in 2022 according to the University of Florida International Shark Attack File (ISAF) 2022 Worldwide Shark Attack Summary. This thin strip of water, where inbound waves that may have traveled for hundreds of miles finally snag on the rising coastal sea floor and topple over, creates the perfect environment for surfers and sharks alike, the ISAF explains. Not quite, says Naylor: Unprovoked bites give us significantly more insight into the biology and behavior of sharks. The single unprovoked USA fatality, occurred late in the year when a snorkeler went missing along Keawakapu Beach in Maui, Hawaii. On the way up, when I had the lobster in my hand, I felt a little tap on the back of my leg, and I looked behind me and the shark was in my face," Hricko said. If youd like to learn more about shark bites, as well as how to avoid them, be sure to read: Jim Fulcher has been a writer and editor his entire career. Natalie Neysa Alund can be reached at [email protected]. None of Floridas 16 unprovoked bites were fatal, but two likely from bull sharks required medical treatment resulting in amputations. ISAF had only recorded 12 unprovoked bites in New York's history prior to 2022. So he decided A teenage girl was seriously injured in a shark attack in Florida on Thursday, marking the second reported attack in just over a week across the nation. DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - A 33-year-old man is recovering after he was bitten on the foot by a shark off the coast of Daytona Beach. 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