A man was bitten in both legs Sunday afternoon while swimming off Haulover Beach in Miami-Dade County.
© Rob BoyteA man was bitten in both legs Sunday afternoon while swimming off Haulover Beach in Miami-Dade County.
A man swimming at a south Florida beach was bitten on both legs by a shark.

WPLG-TV reports that Lt. Felipe Lay of Miami-Dade Fire Rescue says the unidentified man was swimming Sunday afternoon off Haulover Beach when he was attacked.

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Ocean Rescue lifeguards say they became aware of a shark lurking in the water and immediately began alerting bathers to get out of the water. Officials say the bull shark was 4-to-5 feet. Officials say the man, who was able to get out of the water and get aid from lifeguards, was taken to Aventura Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

"In the process of exiting the water, a beachgoer was bitten in the lower extremities by what appeared to be a 4-to-5 foot bull shark," said Miami-Dade Fire Rescue spokeswoman Erika Benitez. "The person was able to get out of the water, and MDFR Ocean Rescue lifeguards immediately rendered assistance."

The male swimmer was bitten on both legs, Lt. Felipe Lay of Miami-Dade Fire Rescue told WPLG-Ch. 10


A man was bitten in both legs Sunday afternoon while swimming off Haulover Beach in Miami-Dade County.
A man was bitten in both legs Sunday afternoon while swimming off Haulover Beach in Miami-Dade County.
The man, who was conscious and alert, was taken to Aventura Hospital, Benitez said. Officials did not identify the swimmer Sunday night.

"Although these incidents are rare, we still ask beachgoers to always be aware of their surroundings," Lt. Matt Sparling told WPLG. "In my 20 years as a lifeguard, this is the first time a person has been bitten here at Haulover Beach, and possibly the first for Miami-Dade County."

Shark attacks dropped sharply worldwide in 2016, reverting to average levels after breaking records in 2015.

There were 81 unprovoked attacks last year, well down from 98 the previous year, according to the International Shark Attack File at the University of Florida.

Florida again led the United States, with 32 attacks, up from 30 in 2015. Volusia County, the state's shark-attack capital, recorded 15 attacks, the largest number.