Latest news with #sharkbitecapital
Daily Mail
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Horror moments after Florida surfer takes to waters in 'shark bite capital of the world'
A Florida surfer almost lost his arm moments entering the water in the 'shark bite capital of the world' after he was attacked by one of the beasts. Dramatic video captured the moment Matt Bender, 40, of Orlando, was bandaged up as blood gushed from his limb. The surfer was riding the waves around 3pm on Sunday when he was mauled by the shark in New Smyrna Beach. The video, shared by Instagram user @theother_mazdagirl, shows the chaotic moments after the attack as beachgoers rushed to help. Blood can be seen on Bender's arm as his hand appears to be hanging on by a string as a fellow surfers wrap it in towels and attempt to calm him down. 'I felt it clamp down like a bear trap out of nowhere,' he told Fox affiliate WOFL–TV. He said it felt like 'electricity' when the shark bit into his right forearm. 'I never saw the shark, but it bit really forcefully. It felt like electricity.' Bender was rushed to a nearby hospital and is now in recovery, his friends said. Despite the gruesome photos of his savaged arm, his friends dispelled rumors circulating on social media claiming his hand had been completely bitten off. 'Our good friend and fellow waterman @Matt_Bender was bit by a shark today while surfing in New Smyrna,' they shared on Facebook. 'Contrary to what's said in THIS video clip that's circulating, his hand was NOT bitten off – he's doing good considering, but he was injured and needs our support and prayers right now.' 'Matt is a strong, godly man and part of our surf family - so we're asking all our Raw Surf friends and fans to lift him up in prayer tonight. Let's cover him in love and healing energy as he begins to recover,' the post continued. 'Stay safe out there, y'all. NSB has always had its share of shark encounters, and today was a heavy reminder.' Despite the traumatic incident, Bender said he will be back out in the waters as soon as he recovers. 'For some reason, I got to take a little break, but I'll be back out there,' he said. In July 2024, New Smyrna Beach was named America's deadliest beach. The Florida beach beat nine others to win the undesirable crown, with researchers at California-based Simmrin Law using three main factors to determine the result: hurricanes, surf zone fatalities and shark attacks. Experts warned that the coastline's popularity among surfers and a lack of visibility can make visitors extremely vulnerable. Officials in New Smyrna recorded nearly 400 beach rescues in just a matter of days due to high rip currents and crowds that year. The beauty spot has also been dubbed 'shark bite capital' of the world. There have been a shocking three attacks since July 4, 2024, alone - and a separate incident at nearby Daytona Beach where a 14-year-old boy visiting from Missouri was bitten on his foot. Yet despite this, the beach's most fatal danger is reportedly hurricanes. 'While shark attacks often grab headlines, Florida's beaches rank so high due to the ever-present hurricane risk,' explained lawyer Michael Simmrin. Just last month, a seasoned surfer off the Florida coast was abruptly knocked off his board when a shark suddenly launched out of the ocean, and struck him in the head. Darren Kaye, 51, of Winter Park, was surfing off the coast of New Smyrna Beach, staying alert after spotting sharks near the shore and witnessing several recent attacks at the popular surf spot, WFTV 9 News reported. Though he kept a close eye on the water, Kaye never thought to look to the air - until, in a split second, a spinner shark burst out from underneath the surface and headbutted him off his board. 'I have a scar on the side of my elbow from being hit by a car and that's what it felt like,' Kaye told WFTV. 'It felt like getting hit by a car. It was really strong and powerful,' he added. 'They're all muscle, you know.'
The Sun
08-07-2025
- Health
- The Sun
Surfer mauled in ‘shark bite capital of the world' after beast ‘clamped down like a bear trap out of nowhere'
A SURFER has been mauled by a shark in a tourist hotspot that has developed a reputation for attacks carried out by the predators. Matthew Bender had to go under the knife after his arm was left savaged. 3 3 He was in the water at New Smyrna Beach, Florida, on Sunday when the predator struck, as reported by the Fox affiliate WOFL-TV. Lifeguards sprang into action and fellow surfers used a leash to act as a tourniquet. Speaking from his hospital bed, Bender recalled the horror. 'I felt it clamp down like a bear trap out of nowhere,' he told the outlet. 'I never saw the shark, but it bit really forcefully. It felt like electricity.' He revealed he was squeezing the area left mangled by the shark bite. Bender had to undergo surgery but his injuries are not thought to be life-threatening. But, doctors had to repair nerves and tendons. Bender faces a period of time off his surfboard but hasn't been deterred by the attack. "For some reason, I got to take a little break, but I'll be back out there," he vowed. New Smyrna Beach is known as the shark bite capital of the world. Since the 1880s, there have been more than 300 shark attacks along the stretch of coastline. More recently, there have been up to 10 attacks at New Smyrna Beach per year. .
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- 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
