Authorities patrolling Florida’s Gulf Coast are using boats to warn swimmers about sharks after a woman and two teenage girls were injured in separate shark attacks on Friday.
The incidents prompted the temporary closure of several beaches on Friday, but they were reopened on Saturday with warning flags in place.
Demian Chapman, a scientist from the Center for Shark Research at the Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium in Sarasota, described the attacks as very rare and unusual. He mentioned that having two attacks involving three individuals in one day is highly unlikely.
Various agencies in Walton County are working together to ensure beach safety by patrolling the water and shore with boats and vehicles following the attacks that occurred in that area. Beachgoers are advised to swim cautiously and be aware of their surroundings.
Warning flags indicating high hazards and dangerous marine life are being used to alert swimmers of potential risks. The presence of small fish near the shore is believed to have contributed to the attacks.
In the first incident, a woman was critically injured near WaterSound Beach, resulting in the amputation of part of her arm. Less than two hours later, two teenage girls were attacked at a nearby beach, with one sustaining serious injuries. Both victims were taken to trauma centers for treatment.
The attacks may have involved one or multiple sharks, but experts note that there has been an increase in shark populations in the Gulf of Mexico due to conservation efforts.
Sheriff’s officials remind the public to remain cautious while swimming in the Gulf, as sharks are always present. The timing of the attacks in the middle of the afternoon was unusual, as sharks typically feed early in the morning or at dusk.
In a separate incident in Hawaii, a woman was seriously injured in a shark attack off the coast of Oahu. Despite these incidents, shark attacks are considered rare worldwide, with a higher number of fatalities reported last year compared to previous years.
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