The man was swimming during a lunch break near Naval Support Activity Panama City when he was attacked.
PANAMA CITY, FL — A civilian Navy employee was critically injured Monday when a shark attacked him during a lunchtime swim near a marina at Naval Support Activity Panama City, officials said.
The attack drew national attention after video showed a violent struggle in the water near the Florida Panhandle base. Officials said the man, described as being in his late 20s, was taken to HCA Florida Gulf Coast Hospital for emergency care. Local, state and federal agencies are investigating what happened and what species of shark may have been involved.
The attack happened at about 11:45 a.m. Monday at the Naval Support Activity Panama City Morale, Welfare and Recreation Marina, a waterfront area on base. Capt. Tristan Oliveira, commanding officer of Naval Support Activity Panama City, said the employee was swimming with a colleague during his lunch break when the shark struck. “First and foremost, our prayers and thoughts go out to the family,” Oliveira said, also thanking first responders who treated the man and moved him quickly to the hospital. The second person in the water was not injured, officials said.
Officials said the victim suffered severe injuries to both arms. NSA Panama City Fire and Emergency Services responded first and transported him to HCA Florida Gulf Coast Hospital, where he was rushed into surgery. Hospital officials later said he was out of surgery and could be transferred to a trauma center for more treatment. His name had not been released Tuesday. Officials also had not released a final account of how long he was in the water after the bite or who recorded the video that spread widely after the attack.
The Bay County Sheriff’s Office, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are involved in the investigation. Their work is expected to include interviews, review of video and an effort to identify conditions near the marina at the time of the attack. No agency had announced Tuesday what type of shark was involved. Officials also had not said whether the marina area was closed after the attack or whether any base rules for swimming had changed.
Naval Support Activity Panama City sits along St. Andrew Bay in the Florida Panhandle. The base supports Navy research, diving and coastal operations, and the MWR marina is used for recreation by eligible personnel and guests. The victim was described as a civilian employee with the Naval Surface Warfare Center who had worked at the base for four years. The attack happened during a normal workday, turning a short swim into an emergency that brought base fire crews, medical workers and outside investigators to the waterfront.
Sharks are common in Gulf Coast waters, especially in warm months, but serious bites remain uncommon. Dr. John Carlson, a NOAA research biologist, said this is the time of year when sharks move into coastal waters, often to give birth. He said areas near Tyndall Air Force Base, St. Joe Bay and Apalachicola Bay serve as nursery areas for several shark species. The Florida Museum of Natural History’s International Shark Attack File said Florida recorded 11 confirmed unprovoked shark bites in 2025, the most of any U.S. state that year.
The International Shark Attack File said there were 65 confirmed unprovoked shark bites worldwide in 2025, with 25 of them in the United States. Florida’s 11 cases made up 44% of the U.S. total. The group said Volusia County had the most cases in Florida, while the rest were reported in Broward, Lee and Miami-Dade counties. The Panama City attack is still under review, so it had not been classified in the public data Tuesday. Investigators had not said whether the bite would be listed as unprovoked.
Video of the attack showed a frantic scene in the water, with the man struggling as others appeared to respond from nearby. Authorities have not released the full video as part of an official report. The images helped push the attack beyond a local incident, but officials have released only limited details about the victim’s condition. Oliveira said base leaders remain focused on the man’s family, the response and the safety of personnel. “We continue to have the safety of all our personnel paramount in all the operations we do on base,” he said.
No charges or enforcement actions had been announced Tuesday, and officials described the case as an active investigation. The next steps include updates from the Navy base, medical information if the family permits it and possible findings from wildlife officials. Investigators also may determine whether the shark species can be identified from wounds, witness accounts or video. As of Tuesday evening, the man remained critically hurt after emergency surgery, and Naval Support Activity Panama City said more information would be released when details become available.
Author note: Last updated June 9, 2026.