A surfer was bitten by a shark in Jacksonville, Florida.
Justin White was enjoying waves generated by hurricane Maria off Hanna Park which is located near the Naval Station Mayport in an area known as the Poles. As he sat on his board waiting for a wave, an estimated 4 to 5-foot long shark grabbed his lower leg.
White was able to make it in to shore and was taken to a hospital in a private vehicle.
According to News4Jax, White received 20 stitches to close the wound on his right leg
This is third shark attack bite reported in the area during 2017.
Keeana Perry was bitten surfing in the same area April 4, when he jumped off his board to see how deep the water was. Once his foot hit the bottom, the shark grabbed his heel. The 17-year-old’s tendon was severed and he had several lacerations on his right foot.
On July 31, Colton McCarty was bitten while skimboarding. The 15-year-old had a large laceration to the back of his left leg.
“He said it felt like little fingers wrapping around his leg and then his leg started burning from the saltwater,” his mother Lisa McCarty said. “He dropped his skimboard and yelled for his cousins and brother to run.”
There have been a total of 81* shark attack bites in 2017, 5 of which were fatal*; 39 were reported in the US, with 26 occurring in Florida** and one in Hawaii. Twelve have been reported in Australia, one of which was fatal. Five unconfirmed worldwide are not included in the total count.
All locations have been marked on the 2017 Shark Attack Bites Tracking Map.
*Two may be scavenge. **One report may have been outside of Florida waters.
