If you wish to bid goodbye to summer with one last snorkelling trip to the beach, then make sure to check the waters for sharks first. An 8-year-old boy was recently bitten by a shark while snorkelling off the coast of Key Largo, Florida on Labor Day, said officials.
In a post on Facebook, the Monroe County Sheriff's office shared that the incident occurred around 3:24 pm on Monday near the Garden Cove Marina. Quickly, the boy who sustained injuries to his leg was airlifted by Trauma Star to the Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami.
"I've seen significant amount of blood loss. The injury is significant; he's been applied two tourniquets," revealed a Key West Public Safety official to broadcastify.com.
While the boy's current condition remains unknown, the officials have notified the U.S. Coast Guard and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission about the incident.
This attack is the latest in a series of shark encounters in the Florida Keys region. In July 2024, a 37-year-old man survived numerous bites from a bull shark while spearfishing near a reef off Key West.
How to look for sharks in water?
Image credits: Getty Images
Before diving into the water, it is important to perform a check of your surroundings. While there is no one way to check for sharks or any other harmful beings in the water, there are some signs you can be on the lookout for.
Look for visual cues such as dark shadows or the unique shape of a shark's fin in the water. A large number of birds diving in the water for fish, can also signal the presence of a large predator.
Additionally, check with lifeguards and appointed authorities for any advisories or warnings about shark sightings in the area.
If you get even a single sign of an unknown presence, exit the water immediately and calmly. Also, try to enter the water in groups and avoid murky water with poor visibility.
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