Latest news with #SunsetBeachFireDepartment
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Alamogordo man believes he was bitten by shark off North Carolina coast
ALAMOGORDO, N.M. (KRQE) – A New Mexico man is back home and recovering after a wild encounter during a family vacation in North Carolina landed him in a hospital. Story continues below Entertainment: First-of-its-kind indoor pickleball facility coming to northeast Albuquerque Community: Albuquerque church leaning on faith after 2 members killed by their son Environment: What should New Mexicans do if they come across a raccoon? Sean Barton was visiting family in North Carolina when the fun day at Sunset Beach turned dangerous on Wednesday. 'I just got done riding a wave, standing up, I felt something bite down on calf-shin region, just bite down on my leg and then let go pretty quickly there after,' said Sean Barton. He said the adrenaline kicked in. 'Immediately I thought, 'I think I just got bit by a shark and I think I should probably get out of the water now,'' said Barton. He yelled for his nieces to get out of the water and ran onshore. Barton said his brother-in-law, a former Air Force EMT, patched him up on the beach chairs while his sister called 911. 'Overall, pretty scary. I'm glad it was me and not any of my nieces or any of the kids playing in the water. And definitely lucky that it wasn't a lot worse than it could've been,' said Barton. Barton ended up in the hospital with 11 stitches. Sunset Beach Fire Department also put out a release warning people about a potential shark in the water. 'You really never expect something like this to happen, especially when you look at the statistics. So, I don't know if it's necessarily a reason to fear the water, but you definitely have to respect that you're in the habitat of some of these creatures,' said Barton. He said this won't keep him from catching another wave. 'Making my way home now, back to the desert, maybe away from the ocean a little bit. I'll definitely be back in the water at some point in the near future,' said Barton. He has to have his stitches in for 10 more days. According the the Florida Natural History Museum, last year the U.S. had 28 confirmed unprovoked shark bite incidents which is 60% of bites worldwide. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Swimmer injured in possible shark attack off North Carolina beach, authorities say
A swimmer was injured in a possible shark attack off the coast of North Carolina on Wednesday, authorities said. The Sunset Beach Fire Department said it received an emergency call around 11:05 a.m. for a potential shark bite at Sunset Beach. The swimmer had sustained a leg injury off near the 31st Street beach access point, authorities said. "Upon arrival, Beach Rescue personnel provided medical care to the injured swimmer, who was conscious and alert," Sunset Beach Fire Chief Richard Childres said in a press release. MORE: 2 friends injured in shark attack in the Bahamas speak out The injured swimmer was treated at the scene and then transported to a local hospital for further evaluation. "At this time, the full extent of the patient's injuries remains unknown, and medical professionals are working to assess the situation," Childres said. Additional details on the victim were not released. Officials are urging beachgoers to stay vigilant. MORE: Shark believed to have injured 4 people in waters off South Padre Island on Fourth of July As of Wednesday afternoon, no further shark sightings had been reported in the area. Unprovoked shark bites are very rare. There were 47 unprovoked shark bites -- including four fatal incidents -- reported globally in 2024, according to the Florida Museum of Natural History's International Shark Attack File. Among those, 28 were in the United States, including one fatal attack, according to the database. Swimmer injured in possible shark attack off North Carolina beach, authorities say originally appeared on
Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Swimmer injured in possible shark attack off North Carolina beach, authorities say
A swimmer was injured in a possible shark attack off the coast of North Carolina on Wednesday, authorities said. The Sunset Beach Fire Department said it received an emergency call around 11:05 a.m. for a potential shark bite at Sunset Beach. The swimmer had sustained a leg injury off near the 31st Street beach access point, authorities said. "Upon arrival, Beach Rescue personnel provided medical care to the injured swimmer, who was conscious and alert," Sunset Beach Fire Chief Richard Childres said in a press release. MORE: 2 friends injured in shark attack in the Bahamas speak out The injured swimmer was treated at the scene and then transported to a local hospital for further evaluation. "At this time, the full extent of the patient's injuries remains unknown, and medical professionals are working to assess the situation," Childres said. Additional details on the victim were not released. Officials are urging beachgoers to stay vigilant. MORE: Shark believed to have injured 4 people in waters off South Padre Island on Fourth of July As of Wednesday afternoon, no further shark sightings had been reported in the area. Unprovoked shark bites are very rare. There were 47 unprovoked shark bites -- including four fatal incidents -- reported globally in 2024, according to the Florida Museum of Natural History's International Shark Attack File. Among those, 28 were in the United States, including one fatal attack, according to the database. Swimmer injured in possible shark attack off North Carolina beach, authorities say originally appeared on
6 days ago
Swimmer injured in possible shark attack off North Carolina beach, authorities say
A swimmer was injured in a possible shark attack off the coast of North Carolina on Wednesday, authorities said. The Sunset Beach Fire Department said it received an emergency call around 11:05 a.m. for a potential shark bite at Sunset Beach. The swimmer had sustained a leg injury off near the 31st Street beach access point, authorities said. "Upon arrival, Beach Rescue personnel provided medical care to the injured swimmer, who was conscious and alert," Sunset Beach Fire Chief Richard Childres said in a press release. The injured swimmer was treated at the scene and then transported to a local hospital for further evaluation. "At this time, the full extent of the patient's injuries remains unknown, and medical professionals are working to assess the situation," Childres said. Additional details on the victim were not released. Officials are urging beachgoers to stay vigilant. As of Wednesday afternoon, no further shark sightings had been reported in the area. Unprovoked shark bites are very rare. There were 47 unprovoked shark bites -- including four fatal incidents -- reported globally in 2024, according to the Florida Museum of Natural History's International Shark Attack File. Among those, 28 were in the United States, including one fatal attack, according to the database.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Yahoo
Weird sea creature ‘balloons' are washing up on North Carolina beaches - here's what they are
Portuguese man-of-war are washing up on North Carolina beaches, forcing officials to issue a warning to beachgoers along a 150-mile stretch of sand from Cape Lookout to the South Carolina state line. Visitors are being cautioned to watch where they step because of the sting the creatures can emit. The sting is rarely deadly to humans but can be painful and cause welts on exposed skin. 'Just a friendly reminder to exercise caution,' the Cape Lookout National Seashore wrote in a May 17 Facebook post. 'Their tentacles can pose a risk to bare feet even after the organism has died. So, let's keep our beach fun and safe by avoiding attempts to pop the blue float. ... Portuguese Man-o-Wars are likely to remain on the beach for several days, so let's stay vigilant over the next week.' While similar in appearance to jellyfish, the creatures are a species of siphonophore, a group of animals closely related to jellyfish, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. They are primarily found in tropical and subtropical areas. They wash up on beaches after being propelled by winds and ocean currents. The creatures are capable of floating in legions of 1,000 or more. Portuguese man-of-war resembles an 18th-century Portuguese warship under full sail, but they are often recognized for their balloon-like shape, which can be blue, violet or pink. The creature can rise up to six inches out of the water. They often lurk below the ocean's surface and grow to an average of 10 meters (about 30 feet) and may extend by as much as 30 meters or 100 feet. The Sunset Beach Fire Department alerted visitors that the 'thread-like tentacles' can spread across the sand. Anyone who is stung should rinse the affected area with saltwater, not freshwater, and remove tentacles with gloves or a towel. People should seek medical attention if they experience severe pain, difficulty breathing or other serious symptoms.
