Shark Nips Foot Of Man In South Carolina; Authorities See It As 'Unprovoked Attack'

(Photo : Pexels/Vova Kras)

A 60-year-old man was bitten by a shark in a beach in South Carolina.

Authorities said in a Live Science report that the incident could be an unprovoked attack from the shark. Initial investigation showed that on July 21, the man was in the waters at two to three feet deep off the Sea Pines beach on Hilton Head Island when a shark bit his foot.

Officials said that the victim was approximately swimming in waist-deep water when the animal attacked him. This immediately prompted personnel from the Shore Beach Service to help and bring him back on the shores.

He was immediately given initial medical attention by the paramedics in the area. After that, the man was brought to Hilton Head Hospital for treatment.

Due to the incident, the Town of Hilton Head Island Government had closed the waters between beach markers 33 and 42 on that day to guarantee the safety of the public.

Unfortunate vacation

The victim, identified as John Mistler, narrated to Newschannel 5, his unfortunate experience during his vacation.

He recalled that it was already the last day and he was just enjoying the waters when suddenly, he felt a nip on his foot.

"I felt the bite, and I rolled over on the boogie board. I'm looking at this shark with my whole right foot in his mouth all the way to the ankle. I was able to make eye contact with him - animal to animal. He was like, 'Sorry, dude, you know,'" he said.

Mistler said he did everything to pull away his foot from the shark's mouth, and this ripped his flesh and tore down his tendons. After that, the shark then disappeared in the waters.

The victim was very grateful for those who have helped him and put first aid treatment while he was still on the beach as well as to those who rushed him to the hospital.

Mistler said he got 100 stitches and staples while being treated. At present, he is on his way to full recovery.

Authorities was not able to determine yet the species of the shark that was involved in the attack. However, various types of sharks can be found in these waters, including relatively small coastal species - finetooth (Carcharhinus isodon), blacknose (Carcharhinus limbatus) and bonnethead sharks (Sphyrna tiburo), among others.

Meanwhile, large, well-known species, including the tiger sharks (Galeocerdo cuvier), great hammerheads (Sphyrna mokarran) and great white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) could also be found there.

Officials said that sharks are mostly found in locations that are several miles away from the shore and their numbers usually increase with distance from the coast.

Common every summer

According to Daniel Abel, a professor of marine science at Coastal Carolina University, many sharks can be found off the coast of South Carolina in the summer.

Due to this, he suggested swimming during the day rather than at dawn or at dusk, the period when sharks are more likely to be feeding.

"Don't swim where there are schools of small fish offshore. Don't swim near where people are fishing near piers," Abel said in the Live Science report.

There is a need to be cautious as shark attacks are often a case of mistaken identity, wherein the sharks thought swimmers are their prey such as seals.

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