He went surfing off this Florida beach. Then he landed on top of a shark.
A surfer had an unexpected encounter off New Smyrna Beach. So did a shark.
According to Volusia County Beach Safety, at around 12:30 p.m. Sunday, the man was in about three feet of water when he “jumped off his board and landed” on the toothy fish.
The shark bit the 27-year-old on the foot and swam away, according to the report.
Paramedics were called and the surfer was treated for minor lacerations at the scene. Officials say the victim was then able to drive himself home to Orlando.
So, how big was it?
“The shark was not seen well enough to estimate its size,” added the report from the county Beach Safety department.
New Smyrna Beach is known as a great destination for surfers. It’s also shark country.
In August, a similar incident occurred with a different surfer, in the same location.
Florida chiropractor Donald Walsh caught a wave and went airborne, crash landing on a six-footer in about six feet of water.
“It felt like a freight train hit me,” the victim, who escaped with only minor cuts, told Click Orlando.
That this stuff goes on isn’t that surprising to those familiar with the movements and whereabouts of the apex predator.
There were six unprovoked shark attacks in Volusia County in 2018 out of 16 overall in the state of Florida, says Tamra Malphurs, spokeswoman for Volusia County Beach Safety.
This story was originally published October 28, 2019 at 3:03 PM.
