Walton County shark attack, Florida

Shark Bites Woman in Oahu

A 25-year-old woman was seriously injured by an apparent shark bite off Oahu’s North Shore on Friday around 2 p.m. Paramedics treated her and transported her to the hospital in serious condition.

Two Shark Attacks in Walton County, Florida

In Walton County, Florida, three people were injured in two separate shark attacks on Friday afternoon. The incidents occurred within four miles and an hour and a half of each other.

The first attack involved a 45-year-old woman who sustained severe trauma and had her left lower arm amputated. The second attack injured two female teenagers, aged 15 and 17, who were airlifted to a trauma center in Pensacola.

Beach Closures and Increased Shark Activity

Following these attacks, Walton County closed several miles of Gulf of Mexico waters, flying double-red flags to indicate the closure.

Violating this warning results in a $500 fine. Florida leads the US in shark attacks in 2023, with 69 confirmed unprovoked cases. The state remains a hotspot for shark bites, although none of this year’s bites were fatal.

Texas Shark Attack

On May 28, a 19-year-old woman named Damiana Humphrey was bitten by a shark in Galveston, Texas. Despite significant injuries, including severed tendons in her hand, Humphrey managed to fight off the shark and reach the shore.

After emergency surgery, she faces a recovery period requiring physical therapy and a temporary leave from her summer job. The incident highlights the importance of vigilance in shark-prone areas.