A 50-year-old man was reportedly bitten by a shark off Key Biscayne, Florida Feb. 2.
Dr. Alvaro Ordonez was spearfishing when he was bitten on his right wrist.
The South Florida man had just speared a jack fish and was halfway to the surface when a large bull shark grabbed his wrist.
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue received a call at 10:01 a.m. and dispatched rescue personnel who transported Dr. Ordoez to Jackson Memorial Hospital’s Ryder Trauma Center for treatment.
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is continuing to investigate the incident.
This would be the first shark bite reported in 2019 in Florida and the second reported in the United States.
Nick Wapner, 19, was bitten by a great white shark Jan. 8 at Montaña de Oro State Park, California.
The surfer was enjoying waves off Sandspit Beach when he was bitten on his legs around 10 a.m.
He was able to kick the shark as it thrashed with part of his surfboard in its mouth. After the shark let go, he alerted others in the water and paddled 100 yards back to shore.
The Cal Poly sophomore needed 50 stitches to sew up injuries to his lower legs, and plans on returning to the water soon.
A second shark incident occurred in South Africa over the weekend.
A father and son were fishing Feb. 2 off the coast of Mtunzini when a shark grabbed their inflatable boat.
The 42-year-old and his 19-year-old son were unable to start their motor and requested assistance from the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI).
NSRI dispatched a rescue crew but cancelled the call after a Good Samaritan assisted the family back to shore.
There have been a total of 5 shark attack bites (4 with injury, 0 of which are considered provoked*) publicly reported and verified in 2019. One fatal**; Two were reported in the U.S (including zero fatal), with 1 occurring in Florida and 0 in Hawaii. One has been reported in Australia, zero fatal. Three unconfirmed bites, worldwide, not included in the total count.
All locations have been marked on the 2019 Shark Attack Map.
*Provoked defined as spearfishing, feeding sharks, fishing, etc. (listed with green marker).
**Zero possible scavenge
