Woman loses arm, teen seriously injured in shark attacks on Florida beaches miles apart, officials say

Kevin Accettulla and Jackson Hurst

7 hours ago

WALTON COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB/WFLA) — A 45-year-old woman lost part of her arm, a teenager was seriously injured and a second teenager was also injured in two shark attacks Friday, about four miles l 'apart along the Florida Panhandle, officials said at a news conference.

Walton County Fire Rescue and the South Walton Fire District responded around 1:20 p.m. local time to a woman injured by a shark near Watersound Way and Coopersmith Lane, deputies said.

The woman required an amputation of her lower left arm and suffered “significant” trauma to her midsection and pelvic area, officials said.

Around 3 p.m., two teenage girls were also injured about four miles to the east, authorities said. The two teenagers are between 15 and 17 years old.

One of the teens suffered trauma to an upper extremity and a lower extremity and is in critical condition, officials said. The second teenager had bodily injuries to his foot.

Beaches were closed in the area where the attacks took place, but the second attack occurred before the beaches could be completely closed after the first due to the need to walk the beach and physically change flags, they said. indicated those responsible.

Officials noted that shark attacks are rare, with this area having experienced shark attacks in 2005 and 2021.

“For two of these incidents to occur on the same day is highly unusual,” officials said.