10-year-old girl attacked by shark on Florida beach

CBS Tampa
Fri, 21 Aug 2015 20:34 UTC

© Jeff Langlois/ZUMAPRESS.com

Spinner sharks are seen near the shore Tuesday morning at Midtown Beach.

Authorities say a shark bit a 10-year-old girl on her leg near the south end of Jacksonville Beach.

The Jacksonville Beach Police Department says that the girl was bitten below her knee Wednesday afternoon and that her injuries were not life-threatening.

WJAX-TV reports there was not a lifeguard working where the girl was swimming.

"It's always a good idea to swim near a lifeguard," Jacksonville Beach Ocean Rescue Capt. Rob Emahiser told WJAX. "They're going to be the first guy to see something. They have a height advantage up on the tower."

The girl was in about two feet of water, and the shark was estimated to be about three feet long. WJAX reports the girl was taken to Wolfson Children's Hospital.

It was the second shark bite this summer at Jacksonville Beach. The first was June 26 when a woman was bit while swimming. On July 19, authorities sounded a warning when a helicopter spotted two large sharks near the beach.

Comment: Shark attacks seem to be on the rise lately. People would be wise to be very careful swimming in ocean waters, especially shallow waters close to the beach, which is where shark attacks most commonly occur:

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