Shark bites 15-year-old girl surfing at the Jersey Shore, officials say
A 15-year-old girl was bitten by a shark of an unknown size while she was surfing along the Jersey Shore, according to officials.
A shark bit the surfer’s leg sometime before 3 p.m. in the waters off a beach in Stone Harbor on May 21, according to the Stone Harbor Volunteer Fire Company.
The teen, who was visiting from neighboring Pennsylvania, was left with several bite marks on her left foot and calf, the fire company announced in a May 22 news release.
After a 911 call reported a possible shark attack, emergency services treated her at the scene before she was sent to a nearby medical center, where she received six stitches, officials said.
The New Jersey State Southern Regional Medical Examiner’s Office assessed the surfer’s bites and concluded they are “those typically associated with a shark of unknown size and type,” the release said.
Ultimately, the chances of a shark biting a person are pretty low, according to a summary of the Florida Museum of Natural History’s International Shark Attack File.
In 2022, there were 57 confirmed, unprovoked cases of shark bites across the globe, according to the Shark Attack File. Five of these cases were fatal. There is a 1 in 11.5 million chance of being a shark attack victim in the U.S., the Shark Attack File reports.
The Stone Harbor incident “serves as a reminder of the potential risks associated with water activities in areas where marine life thrives,” the fire company said in the release.
Stone Harbor Mayor Judy Davies-Dunhour said in a statement that the beach town “remains a beloved and popular destination for beachgoers from near and far.”
“The local police and fire departments are fully committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of both residents and tourists,” she added.
Stone Harbor is about 40 miles southwest of Atlantic City.
This story was originally published May 22, 2023 at 4:00 PM with the headline "Shark bites 15-year-old girl surfing at the Jersey Shore, officials say."
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