Latest news with #InternationalSharkAttackFile
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Yahoo
Shark Mauls Surfer 'Like a Bear Trap' in Florida (Video)
Over the holiday weekend, avid surfer Matt Bender was in the water at New Smyrna Beach in Florida when, out of nowhere, a shark latched onto his arm and aggressively attacked him. It's no huge surprise, since NSB is commonly known as the 'shark attack capital of the world,' but still, this wasn't just your average nip. Bender's arm got totally mangled. Good news is: Bender, who is 40 years old, is on the road to recovery. Speaking from his hospital bed, Bender told the tale of what happened. Hear all about it below. 'Just like a lightning strike, the shark came out of nowhere,' Bender recounted. 'I just felt it chomp down on my arm. It felt like a bear trap. Unfortunately, it shredded my arm. It immediately let go, and was gone in a flash.' It was believed that the shark responsible was a bull shark. Bender acted quickly, getting to shore and using his leash as a tourniquet to quell the bleeding, then flagging down others to come help. From there, it was to the it's not the first time that Bender's encountered sharks while surfing NSB. 'I've sen great whites out there,' he said. 'Believe it or not, I've seen one eat a stingray in front of me. You don't really think about them in Florida, but we have every species out there apparently. I've seen great hammerheads that are 15 feet long.' Florida (and Volusia County where New Smyrna Beach is) consistently rank high when it comes to annual shark attacks. According to the International Shark Attack File's report from last year: 'With warm waters and ample shoreline, Florida had a total of 14 bites, more than any other state. Of these, eight occurred in Volusia County, which bears the unofficial title of shark bite capital of the world. Though unconfirmed, many of these bites were likely from blacktip sharks, whose breeding grounds stretch along the northeast Florida coastline. Many of the sharks in this area are juveniles and haven't yet fully developed the ability to distinguish between humans and their natural prey, which includes fish, stingrays and other sharks.' As for Bender, he's undergone surgery and as soon as he can, he's going back out Mauls Surfer 'Like a Bear Trap' in Florida (Video) first appeared on Surfer on Jul 8, 2025
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Florida Surfer Recovering After Being Attacked by Shark in 'Shark Bite Capital of the World'
A Florida surfer is recovering at a local hospital after his left arm was bitten by a shark on Sunday, July 6 Matthew Bender told a local news outlet that it felt like "electricity" running through his body when the shark attacked him at New Smyrna Beach in Volusia County "I felt it clamp down like a bear trap out of nowhere," recalled the surfer, who still plans to return to the waterA Florida man has been hospitalized after he was attacked by a shark in what is known as the "shark bite capital of the world." Matthew Bender, of Winter Park, was bitten by a shark on Sunday, July 6 while surfing at New Smyrna Beach, according to FOX affiliate WOFL. Volusia County Beach Safety Ocean Rescue said the 40-year-old was bitten around 3 p.m. local time, according to the South Florida Sun Sentinel and NBC affiliate WESH. Bender told WOFL he 'never saw the shark,' which bit his left arm 'forcefully,' leaving it severely injured from his thumb to his elbow. He said the bite 'felt like electricity.' "I felt it clamp down like a bear trap out of nowhere. By the time I looked down, it was already gone,' Bender recalled. He thought the shark 'shook its head' before letting go, adding, 'It was also fast." Nearby surfers and lifeguards rushed to Bender's aid, according to the surfer. He said one of the surfers used a surfboard leash to create a tourniquet. The surfer was transported to a hospital after the bite, according to WESH and the Sun Sentinel. Bender said he underwent emergency surgery to repair muscles, tendons, and nerves that were injured in the attack, WOFL reported. He said, "It's a miracle my hand is still working fine." "I think the Lord kept it from being serious. I mean, he works in mysterious ways,' the surfer told the news outlet. But Bender does not plan to let the shark attack stop him from getting back out in the water. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. 'For some reason, I got to take a little break, but I'll be back out there," he told WOFL. "I'm a New Smyrna surfer at heart, and it's not going to end now just because of this." Volusia County officials did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment. Volusia County is considered the unofficial 'shark bite capital of the world,' according to the International Shark Attack File in Gainesville. There were eight shark bites reported in the county in 2024, more than half of the 14 reported in Florida that same year, according to statistics. Read the original article on People
New York Post
6 days ago
- New York Post
Florida surfer attacked in ‘Shark Bite Capital of the World'
A surfer was attacked by a shark on Sunday at a Florida beach aptly nicknamed the 'Shark Bite Capital of the World.' Matt Bender, a 40-year-old from Winter Park, was bitten on his right forearm while surfing on New Smyrna Beach around 3 p.m., Volusia County Beach Safety Ocean Rescue said. He was rushed to a nearby hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and is on the mend, his friends said. Advertisement 3 Matt Bender, 40, was bitten on the forearm by a shark at New Smyrna Beach — which was named the 'Shark Bite Capital of the World' last year. WFTV9 'His hand was NOT bitten off — he's doing good considering, but he was injured and needs our support and prayers right now,' the friends wrote on Facebook. It's unclear what kind of shark attacked Bender, but spinner sharks, black tip sharks and deadly bull sharks have been spotted frequenting the popular coastal hotspot. Advertisement 3 New Smyrna Beach is known as the 'Shark Bite Capital of the World.' NSBInlet/Instagram The beach, an inlet northeast of Orlando, is often crawling with sharks, but surfers are usually unperturbed and seek out the spot for its consistent waves. In 2024, New Smyrna Beach was named the shark attack capital of the world by the International Shark Attack File, which logged a staggering 361 unprovoked assaults since 1837. Between 2010 and 2024, the beach also reported 12 surf fatalities. Advertisement In June, researchers at Tideschart also concluded that the Florida beach is the most dangerous in the country, not just because of the sharp-toothed predators, but because it sits in the center of a hurricane alley. 3 There have been 12 surf fatalities at New Smyrna Beach since 2010. NSBInlet/Instagram Bender's gnarly attack marks the second shark-related encounter at New Smyrna Beach in the past month as summer kicks into full gear. Darren Kaye, a surfer who frequents the beach, knew he had to be attentive and check the waters while he was out catching waves. He never anticipated he'd have to check the sky above him until a spinner shark headbutted him. Advertisement 'I was just really happy its mouth wasn't open,' he said, noting that he wasn't going to let the incident deter him from the sea. In late June, a newlywed couple at the beach had their honeymoon cut short after the man was killed after being struck by a bolt of lightning in broad daylight. The same strike also indirectly hit two bystanders who were treated at the scene.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Yahoo
Surfer Chomped by Shark in…Shark Bite Capital of the World
Just in case it wasn't crystal clear already, Florida is a particularly sharky place. And especially when it comes to the surfing hotspot of New Smyrna Beach. NSB is so sharky, that it's been dubbed with the unfortunate moniker as the 'shark bite capital of the world.' And surprise, surprise, yet another surfer has been nibbled while in the water at NSB adding to the list of some 300-plus recorded attacks since the 1800s. The 40-year-old man in this attack was transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. One surfer, who was in New Smyrna Beach, when the attack went down had this to say: 'It was daunting being out there because we know there are sharks in the water. Traveling up from West Palm, we know that this is a spot where sharks typically like to come. So, coming here, I knew there was a chance. We were a little nervous, but we still go out there.'Consistently, Florida and Volusia County are top the list in the United States and the world for most shark attacks per annum. According to the International Shark Attack File, which recently released its annual report from last year: 'With warm waters and ample shoreline, Florida had a total of 14 bites, more than any other state. Of these, eight occurred in Volusia County, which bears the unofficial title of shark bite capital of the world. Though unconfirmed, many of these bites were likely from blacktip sharks, whose breeding grounds stretch along the northeast Florida coastline. Many of the sharks in this area are juveniles and haven't yet fully developed the ability to distinguish between humans and their natural prey, which includes fish, stingrays and other sharks.' Florida surfers Chomped by Shark in…Shark Bite Capital of the World first appeared on Surfer on Jul 7, 2025
USA Today
7 days ago
- USA Today
Shark attacks surfer in Florida, victim taken to hospital
A shark attacked a surfer in Florida on Sunday, July 6, officials said, marking the second reported shark-related incident with a person in the Sunshine State so far this year. The attack took place in water off New Smyrna Beach, a city south of Daytona Beach in northwest Florida, a Volusia County spokesperson confirmed to USA TODAY on Monday. According to information from WFTV and the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, about 3 p.m. local time, a 40-year-old man surfing in the water suffered a bite to his right forearm, Volusia County Beach Safety Ocean Rescue reported. The victim, who both outlets reported is from Winter Park, was transported to the hospital to be treated for non-life-threatening injuries. Great White spotted: Massive great white shark resurfaces off North Carolina coast What kind of shark attacked surfer in Florida? It was not immediately known what type of shark attacked the victim. USA TODAY has reached out to a beach safety spokesperson for more information. Rumors the man lost a limb are incorrect, friends of the victim with Raw Surf posted on the business' Facebook page. "Our good friend and fellow waterman @Matt_Bender was bit by a shark today while surfing in New Smyrna," the Facebook post reads. "His hand was NOT bitten off − he's doing good considering, but he was injured and needs our support and prayers right now." Swimmer bit: Beachgoer airlifted after South Carolina suspected shark attack Shark bite marks state's known second encounter of 2025 The attack marks the second reported shark encounter with a human so far in 2025, according to information gathered by USA TODAY. The reported attack took place on June 11 in Boca Grande, a small community on Gasparilla Island in southwest Florida and involved a 9-year-old girl. The girl, who survived, nearly lost her hand as a result of the attack. According to the International Shark Attack File (ISAF), 47 people were bitten in unprovoked attacks last year. Four people died, including one person in the U.S. Each year, according to ISAF, the world averages about 65 documented shark attacks. On average, six fatal attacks are reported each year. Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@ and follow her on X @nataliealund.
