Shark Sinks Teeth Into Surfer Near Melbourne Beach
By Space Coast Daily // April 19, 2012
Shark attack
BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE BEACH, FLORIDA – A 28 year-old Melbourne Beach resident was transported to Holmes Regional Medical Center in stable condition Thursday evening after suffering an apparent shark bite while surfing.
The unidentified man told rescuers that he was about 50 feet from the shore line when the bite occurred.
As he paddled out, he reportedly felt something grab his hand as it entered the water and, after pulling his hand free, then saw what he described as an approximately 5-foot-long unidentified shark swimming away.
After returning to shore, the surfer and a friend attempted to drive to the hospital in a private vehicle before pulling over near the intersection of Fifth Avenue and South Miramar Avenue in Indialantic and calling 911.
He was treated for injuries consistent with a bite at the scene by paramedics from Indialantic Fire Department and Brevard County Fire Rescue before being transported via ambulance for further medical evaluation.
The incident was reported at 7:28 p.m. Thursday and no updates on the patient’s condition have been reported.
Brevard County Has Had 101 Attacks
According to the International Shark Attack File maintained by the Florida Museum of Natural History, Brevard County has had 101 attacks from 1882 to 2010. Only one of the attacks were fatal, which occurred in 1934.
Last month, a 19-year-old Orlando man suffered minor injuries after suffering an apparent shark bite while kitesurfing with friends at Playalinda Beach in northern Brevard County.
