Florida beaches under attack: sharks bite three in shallow water in separate incidents

As Americans flocked to the beach to celebrate the long the Fourth of July weekend, sharks in Florida apparently thought they were being treated to a surprise buffet.

Three people swimming in shallow water were bitten in separate incidents just days apart about 15 miles south of Daytona Beach.

The first incident happened Thursday in New Smyrna Beach, when a shark bit a 21-year-old Ohio man while he played football in knee-deep water. He was taken to the hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.

The next day also in New Smyrna Beach, a 26-year-old Florida man was wading in an inner tube in approximately five feet of water when he was bitten. He suffered non-life-threatening injuries to his left foot. He was treated at the scene and later taken to the hospital, according to reports.

Then on Monday morning, a 15-year-old boy was bitten in the leg by a shark during lifeguard training camp at Ponce Inlet, just north of New Smyrna Beach, WOFL reported. The boy was practicing water entries in front of a lifeguard tower when he landed on the shark, per the report. He was treated at the scene and later taken to the hospital.

The recent attacks are no surprise for some, as Florida was once again named the shark attack capital of the United States for 2023.

According to a joint study by the Florida Museum of Natural History and the University of Florida, there were 120 "interactions" between sharks and humans worldwide in 2023. The U.S. recorded the most unprovoked shark bites in 2023, with 36 confirmed cases -- accounting for 52% of incidents worldwide.

As in previous years, Florida had more shark bites than any other state with 16 attacks, which represent 44% of the U.S. total and 23% of unprovoked bites worldwide, according to the data. That's followed by Hawaii with 8 attacks, New York with 4, North Carolina with 3, South Carolina with 2, California with 2, and New Jersey with 1.

Despite Florida's number one ranking, the state recorded no fatal shark attacks in 2023, according to the study. Only two deadly attacks occurred in the U.S. -- in Hawaii and California.

While it may seem like sharks around Florida have a particular penchant for humans, experts stress that shark attacks are still very rare.

"Each year, there are consistently fewer than 100 unprovoked bites, making it more likely for someone to win the lottery than to be attacked by a shark," the study noted. "When there are more attacks, it often means that more people are spending time in the water — not that sharks have become more dangerous."