Shark Attack off South Florida Beach First in Decades

Shark Attack off South Florida Beach First in Decades
Lifeguards apply First Aid to man bitten by shark just off beach in south Florida. Rob Boyte/Miami-Dade Fire Rescue
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A man was bitten by a what officials thought was a bull shark while swimming at a south Florida beach.

The unnamed beachgoer was bitten on both of his legs by a shark just off shore of Haulover Beach, about 8 miles away from Miami Sunday afternoon, July 9.

Lifeguards had just called swimmers in after spotting increased shark activity, but Lt. Felipe Lay of Miami-Dade Fire Rescue told CBS Miami that the man didn’t quite make it out of the water in time.

“He was up in the north end of Haulover Beach and he was in the water coming off the sandbar when he noticed the lifeguards were trying to get his attention to come in,” said Miami-Dade Fire Ocean Rescue Lt. Matthew Sparling. “While he was walking up the sandbar, he went through a little deep water and was struck by the shark.”

The bull shark responsible for the attack caught in photo swimming among beachgoers. (Rob Boyte/Miami-Dade Fire Rescue)
The bull shark responsible for the attack caught in photo swimming among beachgoers. Rob Boyte/Miami-Dade Fire Rescue