Three people injured after two shark attacks on Gulf Coast beach

Lina Portman4 weeks ago

1 4 minutes read

Three people were seriously injured Friday after multiple shark attacks along the Gulf Coast. At approximately 1:20 p.m., the Walton Co. Sheriff's Office reported that a 45-year-old woman was injured in a shark attack on Founders Lane in Watersound Beach, Florida. . The woman, who reportedly swam past the first sandbar of the beach with her husband, suffered “significant trauma to her abdomen and pelvic region” and lost the lower part of her left arm, according to the South Walton Fire District. She was immediately treated at the beach before being flown to HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital, where she remains in critical condition. Less than two hours later and just four miles east, the Walton County Sheriff's Office and South Walton Fire District responded to a second shark attack near Sandy Shores Court, off the coast of Seacrest Beach. Firefighters say two teenage girls were swimming in waist-deep water with a group of friends just inside the first sandbar at the beach. One of the girls suffered significant injuries to an upper limb and a lower limb, both of which required tourniquets. She was flown to Ascension Sacred Heart Pensacola, where she remains in critical condition. The second girl received a “flesh wound” to her right foot and is in stable condition. “Over the course of our history, it's very unusual, extremely unusual for two to happen on the same afternoon and within four miles of each other,” said Ryan Crawford, Chief of the Fire District of South Walton. Double red flags flew on Walton County beaches, officially closing the Gulf of Mexico to the public until further notice. Earlier in the day, the South Walton Fire District displayed yellow and purple flags to signal moderate surfing hazards and stinging marine life. South Walton Fire District officials say several citizens with medical expertise were on scene and provided “life-saving assistance.” The Walton County Sheriff's Office said the last shark incident in Walton County was in June 2021. -old survived a bite to the chest after swimming 40 yards from shore in the state park from Grayton.

WALTON COUNTY, Florida —

Three people were seriously injured Friday after multiple shark attacks along the Gulf Coast.

At approximately 1:20 p.m., the Walton Co. Sheriff's Office reported that a 45-year-old woman was injured in a shark attack on Founders Lane in Watersound Beach, Florida.

This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their website.

WOMAN INJURED IN SHARK INCIDENT REPORTED IN WATERSOUND; DOUBLE RED FLAG NOW FLYING ON SURROUNDING WALTON COUNTY BEACHES

Just after 1:15 p.m. @WCSOFL And @swfdinfo responded to a report of a woman injured by a shark in the water near Watersound Way and Coopersmith… pic.twitter.com/atAkWyf875

– Walton Co. Sheriff (@WCSOFL) June 7, 2024

The woman, who reportedly swam past the first sandbar of the beach with her husband, suffered “significant trauma to her abdomen and pelvic region” and lost the lower part of her left arm, according to the South Walton Fire District.

This content is imported from Facebook. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their website.

She was immediately treated on the beach before being airlifted to HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital, where she remains in critical condition.

Less than two hours later and just four miles east, the Walton County Sheriff's Office and South Walton Fire District responded to a second shark attack near Sandy Shores Court, off the coast of Seacrest Beach.

This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their website.

WCSO AND SWFD RESPOND TO SECOND SHARK INCIDENT AT INLET BEACH; WATER IS CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC IN WALTON COUNTY@WCSOFL And @swfdinfo responded to the area of Shoreline Drive following several reports of a teenager injured by a shark.

The water is now closed to… pic.twitter.com/1nKJNHw6OU

– Walton Co. Sheriff (@WCSOFL) June 7, 2024

Firefighters said two teenage girls were swimming in waist-deep water with a group of friends just inside the first sandbar at the beach.

One of the girls suffered serious injuries to an upper and lower limb, both of which required tourniquets. She was flown to Ascension Sacred Heart Pensacola, where she remains in critical condition.

The second girl received a “bodily injury” to her right foot and is in stable condition.

“These types of incidents, although we have had a few here throughout our history, are very unusual, extremely unusual for two to occur on the same afternoon and within four miles of each other. 'other,' the South Walton Fire District chief said. Ryan Crawford.

Double red flags flew on Walton County beaches, officially closing the Gulf of Mexico to the public until further notice.

Earlier in the day, the South Walton Fire District displayed yellow and purple flags to signal moderate surf hazards and stinging marine life.

South Walton Fire District officials say several citizens with medical expertise were on scene and provided “life-saving assistance.”

The Walton County Sheriff's Office said the last shark incident in Walton County was in June 2021. A 14-year-old survived a bite to the chest after swimming 40 yards from shore in the park of Grayton State.