Man, 31, hospitalized after blacktip shark bit 8-inch wound in his leg on South Beach

A 31-year-old man was hospitalized Wednesday after a shark bit him in the leg on South Beach.

The blacktip shark attack, which occurred in the water near 10th Street, caused an 8-inch laceration on the man’s leg and led Miami Beach Ocean Rescue to fly a double red flag in the area warning beachgoers not to enter the water Wednesday afternoon, a city spokeswoman said.

Miami Beach Fire Rescue stopped the man’s bleeding, but he was taken to Ryder Trauma as a precaution. He was listed as being in stable condition, the spokeswoman said. There appeared to be bait fish schools in the area during the time of the incident, she said.

This story was originally published October 7, 2020 at 5:42 PM.

Martin Vassolo

Miami Herald

305-376-2071

Martin Vassolo writes about local government and community news in Miami Beach, Surfside and beyond. He was part of the team that covered the Champlain Towers South building collapse, work that was recognized with a staff Pulitzer Prize for breaking news. He began working for the Herald in 2018 after attending the University of Florida.