Updated 7.2.20
A 10-year-old was pulled into the water by a shark in Tasmania, while in Florida, a quick-thinking bystander pulled a child to shore after he sees an approaching shark.
Lucas Arnott was fishing with his father and two other men on a 19-foot (6m) vessel about 3 miles (5km) from Stanley, Australia July 17. They were unaware a shark warning had been issued for the area after a large shark had been spotted in waters off the Stanley area.
The shark, thought to be an 11- to 12-foot (3.6 to 3.7m) white shark, grabbed the child from the boat, pulling him into the water. The boy’s father jumped into the water and the shark swam off.
Thankfully, Arnott was wearing a life vest which kept him afloat. While the jacket offered some protection from the attack, he still suffered cuts and bite marks across his chest, head and arms.
The group quickly headed to shore where Arnott received first aid from locals and then was taken to the hospital by paramedics for the required surgery.
Australia has been the site of several shark attacks this year, and several shark bites have been reported in 2020. Unfortunately, five attacks have been fatal.
Anika Craney, 29, a shark documentary maker, was bitten by a shark while swimming to her boat off Fitzroy Island July 14. She spotted the shark, thought to be a bronze whaler, swimming toward her. She knew to put her fins in front of the shark, but it still grabbed her foot below the ankle. She was able to kick the shark away and exit the water.
Mani Hart-Deville, 15, died off Wooli Beach at Wilsons Headland after a great white shark bit his legs July 11. According to initial reports, the shark attacked, left and returned to make a second pass.
Matthew Tratt, 36, and his brother were spearfishing off Fraser Island, Queensland July 4 when he was killed by a shark. The duo were off the location called Indian Head when a white shark struck and caused fatal injuries to the spearfisherman’s leg.
Robin Pedretti, 60, was surfing off Salt Beach, New South Wales June 7 when he was fatally injured by a white shark.
Zach Robba, 23, was swimming when he sustained fatal injuries off a remote New South Wales North West Island April 6.
Scuba Diver Gary Johnson, 57, was killed by a white shark off Cull Island off Esperance Jan. 5.
Child pulled from approaching shark in Florida
Adrian Kosicki, an off-duty Cocoa Beach police officer, was walking along the beach with his wife July 16 when they spotted a small shark in the shallows.
The shark was swimming near the shoreline where a young boy was riding the waves on his boogieboard, unaware he was directly in the shark’s path.
Thinking quickly, Kosicki jumped in and pulled the young boy from the shallow waters back to shore.
While the threat from the shark was probably minimal, Kosicki reacted properly by removing the child.
Anytime a shark is spotted, it is best to leave the water as quickly and calmly as possible.
All locations have been marked on the 2020 Shark Attack Map.
