VOLUSIA COUNTY, FL – A junior lifeguard camp session turned bloody in Volusia County, Florida, when a 14-year-old participant was bitten by a shark while diving into the water at Ponce Inlet. The incident occurred around 11:15 a.m. Monday, according to Aaron Jenkins, Deputy Chief of Volusia County Beach Safety.
According to Jenkins, the teenager inadvertently landed on the shark, prompting it to bite him on the right calf. The boy was quickly taken to the hospital, where he was treated for non-life-threatening lacerations. The victim said about his injuries, “Felt like my foot was being stabbed.”
Eyewitnesses identified the shark as a blacktip, which is commonly found in the region. This incident marks the third shark attack in Volusia County over the last week. On July 4, a 21-year-old visitor from Ohio was bitten on the foot while playing football in shallow waters.
The following day, a 26-year-old from Sarasota sustained a bite to his foot while floating in deep waters on an inner tube. Both individuals also sustained non-life-threatening injuries.
The local junior lifeguard program aims to educate young participants about ocean safety, and despite this incident, it continues to be a popular fixture in the community.