14 yr. old killed in shark attack

**Tater** · 06-26-2005, 07:27 PM

Heard it on the news last night. A 14-year old was boogie-boarding about 100 feet off shore and was attacked by a bull shark around Destin, FL. She was pronounced dead at the hospital. This is so sad. We are leaving for Destin in the morning - don't think we'll be doing more than wading in the ocean.

The same thing happened about 3 years ago in this same area. I remember it because we were there and heard it on the news. A 4-year old boy was attacked by a bull shark as he was sitting with his dad in VERY shallow water. Dad fought, but couldn't get the shark to release the boy's arm. The child lost his arm and his life.

Is it just me, or does it seem these attacks are increasing in this area? It seems like every couple of years as we are planning a trip to Destin, someone is killed by a shark in the same area. Maybe its a sign.

**Michelle** · 06-26-2005, 07:34 PM

Wow how sad

**Chea** · 06-26-2005, 09:12 PM

How awful. I feel for the girls family.
We'll be heading waaaay down there in about a week. Its certainly a wakeup call for sure.

**QuilterMom** · 06-26-2005, 10:05 PM

She was actually out about 200-250 yards, out past a sand bar where the water deepens quite a bit and way further out than anyone would be out swimming (usually only surfers would be out that far and it was a surfer that saw her get attacked and brought her in to shore on his board). I've also heard that she was in an area of bait fish - that's a huge no no.

I don't know if attacks are more numerous or not. You have to remember that things like this get much more media coverage than they used to. However, overfishing the waters is also driving sharks much closer to shore than ever.

FL is the world leader for shark 'attacks' each year, but you have to remember that even just a nip (shark figuring out that you're not what it thought you were) that might leave a person requiring a stitch or two is considered an 'attack.'

Bottom line - stay close to shore, don't wear any shiny/reflective swimwear or jewelry, don't go into the water with open/bleeding wounds, don't be in the water before sunrise or after sunset, don't be in the water near bait fish.

**forestdale** · 06-26-2005, 10:48 PM

Kim has given some excellent advice there. Above all, when we swim in the ocean we are going from our environment into the shark's. We have a few bull shark attacks here too. They generally taken swimmers in canals and creeks. They swim upstream and can be found in water that is part salt part fresh. I'd still swim but never swim at twilight, both morning and evening, as this is when many sharks go looking for food.

**QuilterMom** · 06-26-2005, 10:52 PM

Have they determined that it was a bull shark? I haven't watched any news today so I haven't heard any updates. Bull sharks are definitely bad news! They seem to be amongst the more aggressive sharks and they definitely will venture out of the ocean. I try to watch Shark Week on the Discovery Channel each year and I know one year they did a feature on bull sharks - they have been found in rivers very far inland from the ocean.

**Mom23boys** · 06-27-2005, 09:13 AM

What a tragic event.

I didn't know that tidbit about bull sharks going into rivers Kim. How interesting.

**kaykwilts** · 06-27-2005, 10:10 AM

I feel so sad for the family of that girl. I have two girls that are about that age. One is 15 and the other is almost 13. May God wrap his arms around them and give them comfort.