A shark bite has been reported in North Carolina’s off East Beach on Bald Island.
The young, unidentified female swimmer was on a sandbar around 10:30 a.m. on August 5 when she was bitten on her right calf.
In a press release, Village Manager Chris McCall said “an individual was bitten by something believed to be a juvenile shark, as assessed by first responders with the Village Department of Public Safety, given the type of wound sustained, which was non-life-threatening.”
The girl, who was heard screaming, was rescued by her father who paddled her to shore using a surfboard.
She was taken to New Hanover Regional Medical Center in Wilmington, however, further information on the extent of her injuries is unavailable.
While this is the first shark bite reported in North Carolina this year, a 11-year-old girl was bitten just south of Bald Island, at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina in July.
Peyton Force was swimming when a shark grabbed her left leg July 2. Her father assisted her out of the water and she was treated on the scene before being taken to the hospital.
There have been a total of 60 shark attack bites (47 with injury, 12 of which are considered provoked*) publicly reported in 2018. Two fatal**; 20 were reported in the U.S., with 8 occurring in Florida and 2 in Hawaii. Fifteen have been reported in Australia, none fatal. Six unconfirmed bites, worldwide, not included in the total count.
All locations have been marked on the 2018 Shark Attack Bites Tracking Map.
*Provoked defined as spearfishing, feeding sharks, fishing, etc. (listed with green marker).
**One possible scavenge
