Categories: Shark

Girl Bitten While Surfing Off Melbourne Beach

Brevard Times file photo.

MELBOURNE BEACH, Florida – A 9-year-old girl was bitten by some sea creature in the ocean off of Melbourne Beach, Florida on Saturday.

The bite occurred near Paradise Beach Park just after 2 p.m. According to Brevard County Fire Rescue, the girl suffered a bite from an unknown source on her lower leg. Fire rescue crews who responded to the scene transported the girl to a hospital in Melbourne, Florida. Lifeguards flew double red flags at their towers after the bite.

While shark sightings have increased over the past week along the Brevard County coast, there are also large fish that feed on bait fish which swim close to shore during this time of year. Most notable are blue fish which are known to inflict humans with severe bites.

Florida holds the dubious title of having more shark attacks than any other state in the United States. Volusia County and Brevard County on Central Florida’s east coast have the most shark attaccks than any other counties in the Sunshine State.

Signs of sharks in the water: In addition to spotting the telltale shark fins, fish jumping out of water or sea birds hovering at the surface of the water could indicate the presence of feeding sharks. Swim near a lifeguard area (their elevated position on a lifeguard tower is better for shark spotting) and pay attention to warning flags.

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