10-year-old girl bitten by shark in NSB surf; with bandaged foot decides to continue playing on the beach

NSBNEWS.net photos by Henry Frederick.

A 10-year-old Orlando girl was bitten on the foot by a shark in the waist-deep surf, less than two miles south of the Flagler Avenue Approach, 10:30 a.m. Saturday. The beach was packed, thanks to the warm waters with plenty of sun and surf enthusiasts as shown in these photos taken just before 5:30 p.m.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- A 10-year-old Orlando irl was bitten by a shark in waist-deep water this morning and was bandaged up by lifeguards before returning to playing on the beach, a Beach Patrol official said.

"It was suggested she might want to be seen at Bert Fish, but she was fine and wanted to continue playing," Volusia County Beach Patrol Capt. Jack Driskell said. He didn't have the girl's name.

The bite occurred around 20th Street with the girl receiving several puncture wounds from a "clamp down" bite, Driskell ssaid that left semi-citrcle incisions, a classic shark bite.

At 5:30 p.m., the beach still had plenty of people as shown in this photo, due to the warm water.

"There was a grasp and a release," Driskell said of the bite. "She was fine with the whole thing and didn't want to leave. Her parents were OK with it."

The water was extremely murky, which sharks like, due to string winds, which created some rip currents.

"We had a few rescues," Driskell said, "It gets dicey dicey near the Jetty, but eveything worked out."

With water temperatures rising, Driskell said he expects the beaches will be packed again Sunday with weekend visitors.