Shark bites right foot of man playing football in knee deep water at Florida beach

Taylor Ardrey and Brenno Carillo, USA TODAY

July 5, 2024 at 1:58 p.m.·2 min read

A 21-year-old Ohio man was bitten by a shark at a Florida beach on the Fourth of July.

It happened Thursday afternoon in New Smyrna Beach, which is located in Volusia County, according to the Daytona Beach News-Journal, part of USA TODAY Network.

Beach Safety Ocean Rescue Interim Director Tammy Malphurs said the man was playing football in knee-deep water when the shark bit him on the right foot.

The man's injuries were not life-threatening, and he was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment. No further information was available.

This is the third shark bite reported in Volusia County so far this year, according to Malphurs.

More on sharks: Danger in the water: Fatal attacks, bites from sharks rose in 2023. Surfers bitten the most.

There were also reports of incidents in Texas on July 4

This incident at New Smyrna Beach occurred on the same day as two people who were bitten by a shark on South Padre Island, Texas. The victims were transported to the hospital for their injuries.

Two other people had shark encounters but didn't suffer severe wounds. Officials said that the incidents were "a very rare occurrence."

Florida is in the lead for most shark attacks in the US

Volusia County is commonly known as the "shark bite capital of the world" because of the high number of incidents. In general, Florida, with more than 1,300 miles of coastline, is in the lead for highest shark attacks in the nation. Last month, three people were injured on the same day from shark attacks.

In 2023, there were 69 unprovoked shark attacks worldwide, according to the University of Florida’s International Shark Attack File. Of those 69 incidents, the U.S. led all other nations with 36; Florida led all U.S. states with 16; and Volusia County led all Florida counties with eight.

However, experts point out that back to-back attacks are abnormal. The chance increases when more people go into the water.

"You have humans swimming in the water and sharks feeding on their normal food source and it's right in where the people are, and accidents happen, "said Gavin Naylor of the Florida Program for Shark Research.

Taylor Ardrey is a news reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her at tardrey@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Man hospitalized after shark attack at New Smyrna Beach in Florida

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There were also reports of incidents in Texas on July 4

Florida is in the lead for most shark attacks in the US

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