Two teens were injured by a shark in DeBordieu, South Carolina July 29.
Both 12-year-old girls were floating together off DeBordieu Beach near Pioneer Loop when a small shark somehow jumped into their raft. The species of shark could not be identified.
The estimated 3- to 4-foot shark was thrashing about, in its attempt to leave the raft, causing minor injuries to one girl while biting the other girl’s thigh.
The two were able to make it back to the beach and were treated on scene by Midway Fire Rescue.
The girl who was bitten on the thigh was taken to Georgetown Memorial Hospital and is listed in stable condition. The second girl was treated on scene.
In April of this year, a man was bitten on the foot while swimming in the same location.
The unidentified man was on his morning swim April 20, when a shark grabbed his left foot.
He was taken to Georgetown Memorial Hospital for treatment of the 4-inch laceration.
There have been four other shark attack bites reported in the state this year.
Holly Dyar was surfing around 15 yards off Folly Beach, on a longboard when she was bitten on the foot by a four- to five-foot (1 to 1.5m) long shark on April 29.
Mackenzie Higgins, 20, was fishing with her family on Bull Island May 31, when her brother landed an Atlantic sharp nose shark that was about 3 1/2 feet long. She reached to touch the shark and was bitten on the thumb.
Reagan Readnour was boogie boarding with several family members June 18 on Burkes Beach off Hilton Head Island when she was bitten by a shark. The 14-year-old was bitten several times on the leg.
On June 21, Olivia Wallhauser was riding a boogie board with her family, when she kicked a shark and it bit her right foot. She was taken to the emergency room by family members and is recovering well.
There have been a total of 62* shark attack bites in 2017, 5 of which were fatal*; 29 were reported in the US, with 20 occurring in Florida** and one in Hawaii. Nine occurred in Australia, one of which was fatal and one with no injury. Three unconfirmed worldwide and not included in the total count.
All locations have been marked on the2017 Shark Attack Bites Tracking Map.
*Two may be scavenge. **One report may have been outside of Florida waters.
