Latest news with #ChaiKauffman
USA Today
5 days ago
- USA Today
Canadian tourist severely injured after shark bite at Florida beach, officials say
A Canadian tourist was seriously injured and hospitalized in south Florida after a shark attack, according to officials. The man, who is in his 40s, was at a beach in Hollywood, Florida, 21 miles north of Miami, when the shark attack occurred July 22 at 2:50 p.m. local time, Chai Kauffman, the Hollywood Fire Rescue and Beach Safety public information officer told USA TODAY. Emergency officials responded to the scene, where they found the man with "severe lacerations to the upper arm area," Kauffman said. They were able to apply a tourniquet and take the victim to a hospital where he underwent surgery. The victim declined to speak to the press, but he is in stable condition, according to Kauffman. Shark sightings: Massive 13-foot great white shark pings off New England coast 'There was a big splash' The victim, who was visiting Florida with friends and family, was in chest-deep water with a friend when a fish jumped over his head. "Right after that, there was a big splash, and he noticed that he was injured," Kauffman, who retold the story on the victim's behalf, said. The victim then walked to the shore, sat on the sand, and nearby beach goers rendered aid to him with towels until EMS arrived. At the hospital, it was confirmed that a shark bite caused his injury, Kauffman said. This is the first shark attack to occur in Hollywood in 2025. 11 shark attacks so far in 2025 As of July 22, 11 shark attack bites have been reported in the U.S., six of which were in Florida, according to Tracking Sharks. In 2024, the Florida Museum of Natural History's International Shark Attack File confirmed that 47 unprovoked shark bites and 24 provoked bites occurred worldwide. It investigated a total of 88 alleged shark attacks. "The total number of unprovoked shark bites worldwide remains extremely low," the museum stated on its website. "Fatalities saw a decrease over the past year." Surfer bitten by shark days before Hollywood Beach attack On July 18, a shark bit Aaron Jenkins, 18, while he was surfing in New Smyrna Beach in Volusia County, Florida, 58 miles northeast of Orlando, Florida, according to USA TODAY's previous reporting. "It just kind of felt like something clamping down really hard, and then it kind of felt hot, because the teeth obviously, you know, started to dig into my skin," Hollis told NBC's Today. The attack is the second to occur at the beach, which is located in the county that is the self-proclaimed "Shark Bite Capital of the World." Contributing: Melina Khan, USA TODAY Julia is a trending reporter for USA TODAY. Connect with her on LinkedIn, X, Instagram and TikTok: @juliamariegz, or email her at jgomez@
CBS News
6 days ago
- Health
- CBS News
Canadian tourist recovering after shark bite near Hollywood Beach
A man visiting from Canada is recovering after being bitten by a shark near Hollywood Beach, according to local authorities. Hollywood Fire Rescue public information officer Chai Kauffman said the man, in his 40s, was vacationing with family and friends when he was bitten while swimming in chest-deep water. The man reported seeing a fish jump over his head followed by a large splash—then realized he had been bitten. Kauffman said the man managed to walk out of the water and collapse onto the sand, where beachgoers rushed to help. First responders applied a tourniquet at the scene before transporting him to Memorial Regional Hospital. He underwent surgery and is in stable condition and recovering well, according to Kauffman. "I normally just worry about the under-current taking me and paying attention to that but now I'm going to have to be looking out for a fin over top of the water now, that's scary," said Alexandria Matty, who was visiting Hallandale Beach from Greensburg, Pennsylvania, with Madison Ritenour. "The last day that we were here it was all the seaweed and stuff so it looks nicer but now I don't know," Ritenour added. Local resident Charlie Dorin, however, said the waters don't worry him. "I see a lot of sharks but they do not bother the people. I've seen them swim right through people, around people. I paddle board here all the time, I see sharks all the time and never has there been an attack," Dorin said. In a separate event in West Palm Beach, shark bite survivors reunited with medical teams at St. Mary's Medical Center. Among them was Jeff Joel, who was bitten by a lemon shark while diving near Jupiter. "I was trying to get it out and I did—she got away but she got me too," Joel said. "I dive with sharks a lot, that's what I did for the last 20 years, and I spear fish too, and I've been surrounded by a dozen bull sharks and I've never had an issue."
Fox News
6 days ago
- Fox News
Shark bite in South Florida sends man to hospital
A shark attack at a South Florida beach left a man hospitalized on Tuesday, authorities said. The attack happened around 3 p.m. near the 4100 block of Ocean Drive at Hollywood Beach, WTVJ-TV reported, citing Hollywood Fire Rescue. "Upon arrival, the units identified a male with an injury to his upper torso, they then applied a tourniquet and were able to take him to a local hospital," Hollywood Fire Rescue and Beach Safety spokesperson Chai Kauffman told the station. Officials later confirmed the man suffered a shark bite to his upper arm. His condition has not been released. Kauffman said that initial reports indicate the man was in the water when he suddenly jumped out, 'screaming' for help. Officials confirmed the man's injury was the result of a shark bite and called everyone out of the ocean. Kauffman said the protocol is to then wait 30 minutes and, if no threats are spotted, allow people back into the water. Officials have not released the man's identity or said what type of shark was involved. Fox News Digital reached out to Hollywood Fire Rescue but did not immediately hear back. Earlier this month, a surfer at Volusia County's New Smyrna Beach – dubbed the "shark bite capital of the world" – survived a separate shark encounter.
