A South Carolina man, aged 38, was released from the hospital after being bitten by a shark on the face while surfing at New Smyrna Beach, Florida, on Tuesday morning. The incident occurred around 8 a.m. near the inlet, a location notorious for shark bites.
The victim, whose identity remains undisclosed, was rushed to Halifax Health, a trauma center, as a safety measure. He was discharged shortly after. The man was bitten on his right cheek, between his ear and eye, after he fell off his board while riding a wave.
Longtime surfer Ron Robinson, who arrived at the jetty soon after the incident, explained to reporters that such bites often occur when surfers fall into shallow waters, startling the sharks and provoking a reactionary bite. Aerial footage of the area showed several sharks in the water near the jetty, along with numerous surfers. The jetty is known for its excellent waves and abundant bait fish, which attract sharks.
Local surfers and experts alike believe that shark bites are usually a case of mistaken identity. Shark bites in Volusia County, where New Smyrna Beach is located, are typically not life-threatening, and there have been no recorded fatalities. Despite the inherent risk, local surfers seem undeterred.
Tuesday’s incident marks the seventh shark bite in Volusia County this year. Earlier this year, over Labor Day weekend, two other individuals were bitten at New Smyrna Beach. A 37-year-old woman was bitten on her right foot in shallow waters, and a man in his 30s was bitten on his left hand near the Ponce Inlet Jetty.