Categories: Shark

19-Year-Old Orlando Man Bitten By Shark In Brevard County

TITUSVILLE, Florida – A 19-year-old Orlando man suffered minor injuries after suffering an apparent shark bite while kitesurfing with friends at Playalinda Beach in northern Brevard County this afternoon.

Brevard County Fire Rescue paramedics responded to the beach at 1:15 p.m. and found the 19-year-old male patient with wounds to the left foot. Paramedics report that the teen was in good spirits and being attended by National Seashores staff members.

The patient told rescuers that he was kitesurfing and as his foot entered the water, he felt pain. It is still unclear whether the shark bit the victim or if his injuries were caused by some other part of the animal.

The victim, whose name is not available, was transported in stable condition to Parrish Medical Center in Titusville for further evaluation and treatment.

As reported by Brevard Times the last few days in its Cocoa Beach Surf and Fishing Report, small sharks have been taking anglers’ bait more often than keep fish while surf fishing.

According to the International Shark Attack File maintained by the Florida Museum of Natural History, Brevard County has had 101 attacks from 1882 to 2010. Only one of the attacks were fatal, which occurred in 1934.