Shark Attack

Just heard this on Fox News...Said it was at a campground near Destin (Walton Co.). First confirmed a death and later stated extent of injuries not known. How awful!

Media in action...CNN says it happened in Ft. Walton Beach, a girl's leg was bitten off and she later died. Shark was believed to be 11 ft. long...no species yet. Beaches were closed. I look forward to hearing from the locals who will be able to set this straight.

I was out at Grayton when they put the red flag up about noon. Someone asked the deputy why the beaches were being closed with calm water and he replied there was a fatal shark attack somewher nearby.

CNN is reporting a possible 11 footer took off a 14-year-old girl's leg and she died. They have conflicting info on the location and report it as "Walton County".

Latest I've heard that it was in Walton County (not Ft Walton Beach):

"Details of the attack near Camping on the Gulf Holiday Travel Park in Walton County and the victim's name were not immediately released. Coast Guard spokesman Shawn McGivern in Mobile, Ala., said authorities were trying to track down the victim's relatives."

Latest I've heard that it was in Walton County (not Ft Walton Beach):

"Details of the attack near Camping on the Gulf Holiday Travel Park in Walton County and the victim's name were not immediately released. Coast Guard spokesman Shawn McGivern in Mobile, Ala., said authorities were trying to track down the victim's relatives."

I was thinking it might be there but didn't want to speculate. Where did you get this info?

Oh lord. I was driving around when I heard it on the radio, didn't hear the whole exchange. Sad.

>>I was thinking it might be there but didn't want to speculate. Where did you get this info?<<

It's an Associated Press release being beamed all across the country and all around the world as we speak.

Jun 25, 3:55 PM EDT

Young Person Dies in Fla. Shark Attack

SANDESTIN, Fla. (AP) -- A young person was killed Saturday in a shark attack near a campground on the Gulf of Mexico, authorities said.

"We have had a confirmed shark attack. The scene is still under investigation," said Darlene Drury, spokeswoman for South Walton Fire-Rescue. Area beaches were closed to swimmers immediately afterward.

Details of the attack near Camping on the Gulf Holiday Travel Park in Walton County and the victim's name were not immediately released. Coast Guard spokesman Shawn McGivern in Mobile, Ala., said authorities were trying to track down the victim's relatives.

Patrick O'Neill, the campground's general manager, refused to comment.

The attack came near the height of the summer tourist season in the Florida Panhandle. Crowds were drawn to the beaches Saturday by temperatures in the upper 80s and high humidity.

"There are a lot of people on the beach," said Mike McKee, front desk supervisor at the Hilton Sandestin Beach Resort and Spa. He said hotels are typically booked to capacity at this time of year.

"This doesn't happen very often at all - very, very seldom," he added.

Florida had the largest number of documented shark attacks worldwide last year with 31.

Fox News said it happened at 11:15 AM. Someone told me that this is an unusual time of day for a shark to be so close to the beach and attack. Is that true, marinebiology451 (or anyone who knows about sharks)?

Early morning or late evening is when they are most active. They usually don't bother swimmers unless there is blood in the water. A very small amount will attract them, such as if someone is fishing and they hook a fish that bleeds, a small cut on a swimmer, or a swimmer menstruating.

I am from South Louisiana and just heard about the incident. If my sources are correct, the girl is from here and goes to a local schoo.. Any information would be appreciated.

I've been out and about and was shocked to hear the news over the radio. The report I heard mentioned multiple sharks were chasing bait fish. They also mentioned that the 14 yr old girl was out 250 yards from the beach when she was attacked. She lost her leg and later died.

Early morning or late evening is when they are most active. They usually don't bother swimmers unless there is blood in the water. A very small amount will attract them, such as if someone is fishing and they hook a fish that bleeds, a small cut on a swimmer, or a swimmer menstruating.

Thanks. It's so sad ... and scary.

Walton County Ordinance
Sec. 22-40. Regulation of use and conduct on the beach.
(f) Use of rafts, floats, and other flotation devices. Noperson shall:
(1) Use any raft, float, body board, or other flotation device of any description, except for a vessel or sailcraft, more than 500 feet from the water's edge.


One of the suggestions to avoid possible shark attack is to stay near shore, and make sure that many others are in the water around you. This girl was reported to be 250yards (750ft) from shore when she was attacked. It really stinks that she was attacked. I heard a surfer who was once attacked in Hawaii say that the sea is a great big wilderness filled with wild animals. I think his statement is ringing true.

edit - most reports are now stating that the two girls were only 100 yards from the beach. Reading about the large group of sharks seen earlier this year, I notice they reported the sharks coming within 25 ft from shore.

I stopped going out too far into the water after watching Jaws for the first time many years ago.

From News13 Panama City

Fatal Shark Attack

by: Crystal Cameron
News13 On Your Side
Saturday, June 25, 2005


A 14-year-old girl from Louisiana loses her life after being attacked by a shark while swimming in the Gulf Of Mexico.

According to the Walton County Sheriff's Office, two swimmers were about 100-yards off-shore when they observed a dark shadow in the water, one swimmer was bitten by the shark and received bites on the lower portions of her body. The second swimmer, also a 14-year-old girl obsereved the attack and ran to the shore for help, she was uninjured.

The victim was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital in Soth Walton County where she was pronounced dead.

Authorities believe the shark was travelling along the coast feeding on a large school of fish.

The public safety agencies of Walton County have closed the beaches for atleast the remainder of the day, as they continue to examine the public safety risk.

More updates will be available as we receive more information.

Thousands of Sharks Spotted Off Fla. Coast
Wednesday, April 06, 2005

(AP)JUNO BEACH, Fla. ? Thousands of sharks were seen circling a few hundred feet from the shore of Juno Beach

Our Deepest Sympathy and Prayers to the young girl's family. As SJ said
very unusual for sharks to attack at this time of day. Is this mating time for
sharks?

Two summers ago on Seagrove Beach I spotted a two-ft. long shark swimming parallel to the shore about three feet from the water's edge. A crowd of people developed, running along side of it on the beach for several hundred yards. It really scared me to see a shark that close to the edge for that long.

I'm with you, Smiling JOe. Jaws forever made me afraid to go too far into the water. One thing I definitely don't do is wear red polish on my toes. I have found that whenever do that, the little fish attack my feet. So if a shark were nearby, I'm afraid it might do the same and take off a toe or more.

Two summers ago on Seagrove Beach I spotted a two-ft. long shark swimming parallel to the shore about three feet from the water's edge. A crowd of people developed, running along side of it on the beach for several hundred yards. It really scared me to see a shark that close to the edge for that long.

I saw the same thing on Okaloosa Island last week. It was just a baby and I found it interesting that it drew so much fascination.