3 SHARK ATTACKS: Victims on Inlet Beach miles apart, all in less than 2 hours | WDHN

Jackson Hurst and Joseph Hodges

12 hours ago

WALTON COUNTY, Fla. (WDHN) – As first reported by WMBB's Jakson Hurst, three people were injured, two of them seriously, within hours of each other after two shark attacks miles apart on the other near Watersound in Walton County on Friday.

“This is an anomaly,” Walton County Fire Chief Ryan Crawford said, “very unusual for something like this to happen.”

Just after 1:15 p.m., Walton County Fire and Rescue and the South Walton Fire District (SWFD) responded to a report of a 45-year-old woman bitten by a shark near Watersound Way and Coopersmith Lane, according to Walton County Facebook. page. It was reported that the woman lost her left hand in the attack.

The Walton County Sheriff's Office and South Walton Fire District responded to a second shark incident involving two teenagers on a sandbar. Both victims were women aged 15 to 17. One victim has upper and lower limb injuries and is in critical condition. The other victim had bodily injuries to his right foot and is in stable condition.

“These are life-threatening, life-changing injuries,” Walton County Sheriff Mike Atkins said.

Following initial reports, several videos of sharks acting aggressively in the area today were sent to WDHN, suggesting this may be a widespread problem. However, it was said that it would be extremely unlikely that the events were linked.

Water is now closed to the public in Walton County, Bay County and surrounding beaches.