Latest news with #GavinNaylor
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
From Hawaii to Florida, a look at US shark attacks so far in 2025
Sharks attacked at least a dozen people in the United States so far this year, data collected by USA TODAY shows. The most recent reported incident took place on July 22 in South Florida, when a Canadian tourist was seriously injured and hospitalized after a shark bit him. According to USA TODAY Network tracking as well as data from the International Shark Attack File (ISAF) and 12 reported shark attacks have occurred so far this year in American waters. More than half took place in Florida, while the second highest number of incidents happened in South Carolina, data shows. So far, none resulted in death. "This year's numbers do not look particularly unusual at least thus far," Florida Program for Shark Research Director and ISAF spokesperson Gavin Naylor told USA TODAY. Here's how many shark attacks the U.S. has seen so far in 2025, including when and where they occured. Florida (7) Florida leads all 50 states with the highest number of attacks (7) reported so far this year. July 22 (3 p.m.): Hollywood A tourist was injured and hospitalized in South Florida after a shark bit him. The Canadian was in chest-deep water with a friend when a fish jumped over his head and he was immediately attacked by a shark, Hollywood Fire Rescue and Beach Safety said. July 19 (time unknown): West Palm Beach A 69-year-old photographer survived a shark bite after he approached a 5-foot shark, while diving with friends in the Jupiter Inlet, The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Network, reported. The shark was caught in a fish stringer about 20 feet deep in the ocean. As he tried releasing the shark, another diver bumped into it, and the shark bit the man's right forearm. July 18 (12 p.m.): New Smyrna Beach An 18-year-old surf instructor suffered injuries to his foot while surfing, Volusia County Beach Safety reported. The man was paddling to a sandbar when he attempted to jump and push his board over a wave when he was bitten. July 6 (3 p.m.): New Smyrna Beach A 40-year-old man was bitten by a shark on his right forearm as he swam in the ocean, Voulsia County Beach Safety said. The man was transported for medical treatment with non-life-threatening injuries, the Daytona News-Journal, part of the USA TODAY Network, reported. June 11 (12:11 p.m.): Boca Grande A 9-year-old girl snorkeling with her siblings and her dad was attacked by a shark and suffered a hand injury. She was taken by medical helicopter to Tampa General Hospital to receive emergency care. May 27 (time unknown): South of Pompano Beach A 32-year-old woman snorkeling near the pier off Lauderdale-by-the-Sea was bitten by a shark, according to NBC Miami. The outlet reported she was in waist-deep water when she spotted bait fish swimming nearby and a shark grabbed her left arm. She was treated at a hospital. April 13 (12:34 p.m.): Cocoa Beach A 12-year-old boy suffered a knee injury in a suspected shark attack near the Cocoa Beach Causeway, the Daytona Beach Journal, part of the USA TODAY Network, reported. The boy was airlifted to Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children in Orlando. Officials later said the cut could have been caused by his surfboard. Shark attack: American bit by shark boating in The Bahamas South Carolina (2) June 22 (12:10 p.m.): Sea Pines Beach Less than one week later, a teenager was bitten in the same area and also suffered a leg injury, the Greenville News, part of the USA TODAY Network, reported. According to ABC News and Fox News, the attack took place at Coligny Beach Park. June 17 (12:07 p.m.): Sea Pines Beach A 12-year-old girl was bitten on the leg in waters off the south end of Hilton Head Island, local officials said. The girl was transported to Hilton Head Island Airport, where a medical helicopter flew her to a Savannah facility for further treatment. New York (1) June 26 (4:15 p.m.): Long Island A 20-year-old female in shallow water off Jones Beach State Park was injured, data shows. The woman suffered minor cuts to her left foot and leg when she was likely bitten by a shark, The New York Times reported. She was taken to a hospital to be treated. Bahamas shark attack: 2 American women attacked Bimini district North Carolina (1) May 28 (11 a.m.): Sunset Beach in Brunswick County The Sunset Beach Fire Department reported crews responded to the beach just south of Ocean Isle Beach for a report of a person who suffered a leg injury swimming near 31st Street in a suspected shark attack. The swimmer, a 26-year-old man, was taken to a medical facility to be treated for his injuries. Hawaii (1) Jan. 11 (1:40 p.m.): Town of Haleiwa on Oahu A tour boat employee in Hawaii suffered a shark attack on the island's North Shore. Hawaii News Now reported the 23-year-old man was hospitalized to be treated for serious injuries. Puerto Rico shark attack: Former NBA player's pregnant wife bitten How many shark attacks took place in the US last year? According to International Shark Attack File(ISAF), 28 people were bitten in unprovoked attacks last year in U.S. waters. Of those who encountered sharks, one person died. According to the odds of being killed by a shark in the U.S. are more than 4 million to 1. How many people die from shark attacks every year? Each year, according to ISAF, run by the Florida Museum of Natural History, the world averages 65 documented shark attacks annually. On average, six fatal attacks are reported each year, according to ISAF. Last year, 47 people were bitten in unprovoked attacks. Bahamas shark attack: American bitten by shark while boating How to reduce risk of a shark attack Never swim alone. Don't swim at dawn or at dusk. Don't enter waters where people are fishing. Skip wearing shiny jewelry. It can catch the sunlight and glint, much like fish that sharks prey upon. Avoid splashing. It generates sounds similar to struggling fish, which can attract sharks. Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@ and follow her on X @nataliealund. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How many shark attacks in the US in 2025 so far? See list
USA Today
2 days ago
- USA Today
From Hawaii to Florida, a look at US shark attacks so far in 2025
Sharks attacked at least a dozen people in the United States so far this year, data collected by USA TODAY shows. The most recent reported incident took place on July 22 in South Florida, when a Canadian tourist was seriously injured and hospitalized after a shark bit him. According to USA TODAY Network tracking as well as data from the International Shark Attack File (ISAF) and 12 reported shark attacks have occurred so far this year in American waters. More than half took place in Florida, while the second highest number of incidents happened in South Carolina, data shows. So far, none resulted in death. "This year's numbers do not look particularly unusual at least thus far," Florida Program for Shark Research Director and ISAF spokesperson Gavin Naylor told USA TODAY. Here's how many shark attacks the U.S. has seen so far in 2025, including when and where they occured. Florida (7) Florida leads all 50 states with the highest number of attacks (7) reported so far this year. July 22 (3 p.m.): Hollywood A tourist was injured and hospitalized in South Florida after a shark bit him. The Canadian was in chest-deep water with a friend when a fish jumped over his head and he was immediately attacked by a shark, Hollywood Fire Rescue and Beach Safety said. July 19 (time unknown): West Palm Beach A 69-year-old photographer survived a shark bite after he approached a 5-foot shark, while diving with friends in the Jupiter Inlet, The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Network, reported. The shark was caught in a fish stringer about 20 feet deep in the ocean. As he tried releasing the shark, another diver bumped into it, and the shark bit the man's right forearm. July 18 (12 p.m.): New Smyrna Beach An 18-year-old surf instructor suffered injuries to his foot while surfing, Volusia County Beach Safety reported. The man was paddling to a sandbar when he attempted to jump and push his board over a wave when he was bitten. July 6 (3 p.m.): New Smyrna Beach A 40-year-old man was bitten by a shark on his right forearm as he swam in the ocean, Voulsia County Beach Safety said. The man was transported for medical treatment with non-life-threatening injuries, the Daytona News-Journal, part of the USA TODAY Network, reported. June 11 (12:11 p.m.): Boca Grande A 9-year-old girl snorkeling with her siblings and her dad was attacked by a shark and suffered a hand injury. She was taken by medical helicopter to Tampa General Hospital to receive emergency care. May 27 (time unknown): South of Pompano Beach A 32-year-old woman snorkeling near the pier off Lauderdale-by-the-Sea was bitten by a shark, according to NBC Miami. The outlet reported she was in waist-deep water when she spotted bait fish swimming nearby and a shark grabbed her left arm. She was treated at a hospital. April 13 (12:34 p.m.): Cocoa Beach A 12-year-old boy suffered a knee injury in a suspected shark attack near the Cocoa Beach Causeway, the Daytona Beach Journal, part of the USA TODAY Network, reported. The boy was airlifted to Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children in Orlando. Officials later said the cut could have been caused by his surfboard. Shark attack: American bit by shark boating in The Bahamas South Carolina (2) June 22 (12:10 p.m.): Sea Pines Beach Less than one week later, a teenager was bitten in the same area and also suffered a leg injury, the Greenville News, part of the USA TODAY Network, reported. According to ABC News and Fox News, the attack took place at Coligny Beach Park. June 17 (12:07 p.m.): Sea Pines Beach A 12-year-old girl was bitten on the leg in waters off the south end of Hilton Head Island, local officials said. The girl was transported to Hilton Head Island Airport, where a medical helicopter flew her to a Savannah facility for further treatment. New York (1) June 26 (4:15 p.m.): Long Island A 20-year-old female in shallow water off Jones Beach State Park was injured, data shows. The woman suffered minor cuts to her left foot and leg when she was likely bitten by a shark, The New York Times reported. She was taken to a hospital to be treated. Bahamas shark attack: 2 American women attacked Bimini district North Carolina (1) May 28 (11 a.m.): Sunset Beach in Brunswick County The Sunset Beach Fire Department reported crews responded to the beach just south of Ocean Isle Beach for a report of a person who suffered a leg injury swimming near 31st Street in a suspected shark attack. The swimmer, a 26-year-old man, was taken to a medical facility to be treated for his injuries. Hawaii (1) Jan. 11 (1:40 p.m.): Town of Haleiwa on Oahu A tour boat employee in Hawaii suffered a shark attack on the island's North Shore. Hawaii News Now reported the 23-year-old man was hospitalized to be treated for serious injuries. Puerto Rico shark attack: Former NBA player's pregnant wife bitten How many shark attacks took place in the US last year? According to International Shark Attack File(ISAF), 28 people were bitten in unprovoked attacks last year in U.S. waters. Of those who encountered sharks, one person died. According to the odds of being killed by a shark in the U.S. are more than 4 million to 1. How many people die from shark attacks every year? Each year, according to ISAF, run by the Florida Museum of Natural History, the world averages 65 documented shark attacks annually. On average, six fatal attacks are reported each year, according to ISAF. Last year, 47 people were bitten in unprovoked attacks. Bahamas shark attack: American bitten by shark while boating How to reduce risk of a shark attack Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@ and follow her on X @nataliealund.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Yahoo
Tourist loses both hands after provoking shark during beachside photo op: 'The shark didn't just see a human'
A Canadian tourist lost both of her hands trying to take a photo of a shark while snorkeling in the Turks and Caicos Islands on Feb. 7, as reported by the New York Times. The 55-year-old tourist was visiting the island and snorkeling in shallow waters. According to the Department of Environment and Coastal Resources in Turks and Caicos, the tourist "attempted to engage with the animal from the shallows in an attempt to take photographs." After being treated at a nearby hospital, the tourist, who has not been identified, was flown off the island to Canada for further medical care. As for the island, the beach was closed as a precaution. It was reopened on Feb. 9 "after it was determined that the shark had moved to deeper water." The shark had not been identified, although it was estimated to be six feet long. According to Gavin Naylor, the director of the International Shark Attack File at the University of Florida, it was unconfirmed whether the shark bite was "provoked or unprovoked." The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force was investigating further. In 2024, there were 88 confirmed shark bites across the world, according to the International Shark Files data. Of these 88 bites, 47 were listed as unprovoked bites. According to Chris Stefanou, a New York conservationist, photographing sharks carries a risk, as a phone or camera could be mistaken for a fish. "Sharks, or any predatory animal in the ocean, can confuse that as like a bait fish," Chris Stefanou told the NYT. "The shark didn't just see a human: 'Ooh, I'm hungry, I want to go take a bite.' That did not happen." There was also another reported shark encounter in the Caribbean the same day, with two Americans involved in the Bahamas, according to the Royal Bahamas Police Force. Gavin Naylor told the NYT this was unusual and made him "sit up a little." Sharks don't carry the same threat that pop culture has made us think, with movies like Jaws and programs like Shark Week depicting them as ocean predators. According to the National Ocean Service, "Sharks have more to fear from humans than we do of them." However, shark populations are threatened by habitat loss and overfishing of shark species. The Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation of Migratory Sharks reports that up to 70 million sharks are killed by people every year. Shark Stewards reports a 71% decline in shark populations since 1970. Sharks are vital to the ocean ecosystem, so a change in their eating habits or location can affect other ocean populations. Just like with animals on land, such as bears and elk, it's vital to respect sharks' habitat and their space. Keeping your distance from sharks is not only important for your safety but also for theirs. Especially with habitat loss leading to a change in the feeding habits of reef sharks, caution is important when swimming in water with sharks. Should tourists be responsible for cleaning up their own trash? Absolutely In most cases It depends on the place No, they shouldn't Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. "The DECR would like to urge the public to always be aware of your surroundings, follow local advisories, and respect marine life," the Turks and Caicos government wrote in a statement. "Swim in designated areas, avoid murky waters, never swim alone, and do not attempt to feed marine wildlife under any circumstances." Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
18-02-2025
- Yahoo
Shark attacked tourist as she tried to take its picture in Turks and Caicos, authorities say
A shark attacked and injured a Canadian tourist as she tried to take its picture in the Turks and Caicos Islands earlier this month, according to local authorities. The attack occurred the morning of February 7 at a beach on Providenciales, one of the territory's eastern islands, per a statement from the Royal Turks and Caicos Island Police Force. 'The 55-year-old victim was brought ashore and rushed to the Cheshire Hall Medical Center for treatment,' the police statement said, adding that an investigation into the incident is ongoing. In a press statement posted on social media, the Caribbean territory's environmental department said that the tourist 'had attempted to engage with the animal from the shallows in an attempt to take photographs.' 'The shark was estimated to be approximately 6ft in length, however the species is yet to be confirmed,' it continued. Global Affairs Canada, the Canadian government body that manages diplomatic relations, said it was aware of 'a Canadian citizen who experienced an accident in Turks and Caicos.' 'Consular officials have contacted local authorities to gather information and stand-ready to provide consular assistance,' Global Affairs continued. Global Affairs declined to offer further information out of privacy concerns. CNN has reached out to the Department of the Environment and Coastal Resources for further comment, as well as a spokesperson for the archipelago's tourism authority. Though popular movies like 'Jaws' have given sharks a reputation for hostility and aggression, attacks on humans are extremely rare, especially in Turks and Caicos. Per the Florida Museum's International Shark Attack File, which tracks such incidents, there were only 3 recorded shark attacks in Turks and Caicos between 1749 and 2024. The Bahamas, meanwhile, recorded 33 in that period. One of those rare attacks occurred just two years ago in 2023, when a shark bit a snorkeling American woman. She lost her leg in that attack, which the Florida Museum included in their 2023 annual report. Dr. Gavin Naylor, who manages to the Shark Attack File, said that the most recent attack would be added to the total next February, when the database releases its yearly roundup. There are about 30 different kinds of shark in that part of the Caribbean, according to Naylor.
CNN
18-02-2025
- CNN
Shark attacked tourist as she tried to take its picture in Turks and Caicos, authorities say
A shark attacked and injured a Canadian tourist as she tried to take its picture in the Turks and Caicos Islands earlier this month, according to local authorities. The attack occurred the morning of February 7 at a beach on Providenciales, one of the territory's eastern islands, per a statement from the Royal Turks and Caicos Island Police Force. 'The 55-year-old victim was brought ashore and rushed to the Cheshire Hall Medical Center for treatment,' the police statement said, adding that an investigation into the incident is ongoing. In a press statement posted on social media, the Caribbean territory's environmental department said that the tourist 'had attempted to engage with the animal from the shallows in an attempt to take photographs.' 'The shark was estimated to be approximately 6ft in length, however the species is yet to be confirmed,' it continued. Global Affairs Canada, the Canadian government body that manages diplomatic relations, said it was aware of 'a Canadian citizen who experienced an accident in Turks and Caicos.' 'Consular officials have contacted local authorities to gather information and stand-ready to provide consular assistance,' Global Affairs continued. Global Affairs declined to offer further information out of privacy concerns. CNN has reached out to the Department of the Environment and Coastal Resources for further comment, as well as a spokesperson for the archipelago's tourism authority. Though popular movies like 'Jaws' have given sharks a reputation for hostility and aggression, attacks on humans are extremely rare, especially in Turks and Caicos. Per the Florida Museum's International Shark Attack File, which tracks such incidents, there were only 3 recorded shark attacks in Turks and Caicos between 1749 and 2024. The Bahamas, meanwhile, recorded 33 in that period. One of those rare attacks occurred just two years ago in 2023, when a shark bit a snorkeling American woman. She lost her leg in that attack, which the Florida Museum included in their 2023 annual report. Dr. Gavin Naylor, who manages to the Shark Attack File, said that the most recent attack would be added to the total next February, when the database releases its yearly roundup. There are about 30 different kinds of shark in that part of the Caribbean, according to Naylor.
