DELAND, Fla. – A 14-year-old boy was attacked by a shark while participating in a Junior Lifeguard Camp at Ponce Inlet in Volusia County on Monday morning, according to officials from Volusia County Beach Safety (VCBS). The incident occurred around 11:15 a.m. as the boy entered the water and was bitten on his right calf.
According to witnesses, the boy landed on the shark when he dove into the water, resulting in the attack. The shark was identified as a 4 to 5-foot Black Tip, a common species along the beaches in the area.
The injured boy received immediate on-site treatment before being transported to the hospital for non-life-threatening lacerations. Florida, particularly Volusia County, has earned the reputation of being the shark capital of the world, according to a report from the Florida Museum of Natural History’s International Shark Attack file. Since 1882, there have been 351 shark attacks in Volusia County alone.
Earlier this month, Walton County in Florida closed down miles of its beaches after two consecutive shark attacks. Over the Fourth of July weekend, four people were injured in shark attacks on South Padre Island in Texas.
Shark attacks continue to captivate public interest and highlight the need for beach safety measures across the United States. Awareness and education about sharks and their behavior can help mitigate such incidents, ensuring the safety of beachgoers.