On Friday, three swimmers, including two teenagers, were attacked by sharks in separate incidents at beaches in Walton County, Florida, authorities reported.
At around 1:20 p.m., a 45-year-old woman swimming with her husband past a sandbar at Watersound Beach was bitten by a shark. ABC News Reported, that South Walton Fire District Chief Ryan Crawford reported that the woman sustained “significant trauma” to her midsection, necessitating the amputation of part of her left arm. She was transported to HCA Fort Walton-Destin Hospital in critical condition.
Approximately 90 minutes later, near Seacrest Beach, just four miles from Watersound Beach, a 15-year-old girl and a 17-year-old girl were injured by a shark while swimming with friends in waist-deep water near the first sandbar. According to the NY POST, One of the girls sustained “significant injuries” and was medevacked to Ascension Sacred Heart Pensacola Hospital in critical condition. The other girl suffered flesh wounds to her foot and was taken to Ascension Bay Medical Center in stable condition.
Walton County Sheriff Michael A. Adkinson Jr. stated that officials ordered beach closures following the first attack. However, the order was not fully enacted before the teens were attacked. Authorities mentioned that changing the beach warning flags along the coastline would have taken about an hour and a half.
Sheriff Adkinson Jr. noted that the last shark attack in the county occurred in 2021, with the previous shark-related fatality dating back to 2005.
