Sharks are a group of elasmobranch fish, sharks are put in this category because of their cartilaginous skeleton and gills. Contrary to popular belief, shark attacks are very rare. In fact, they are so rare that the odds of dying from a shark attack are one in 3.7 million in comparison to a one in 218 chance of dying from a fatal fall. There are on average twenty-nine shark bites each year in Florida. 

Boca Raton, in May of 2016 a woman was attacked by a nurse shark. The nurse shark attached itself to the 23-year-old women’s arm. There was thought to be provoking of the shark, which caused the attack. But the woman’s friends deny these theories. The woman sustained injuries from the attack including excessive bleeding, scars, and bruising. The nurse shark was killed by other people at the beach because the shark would not release the woman from its jaws.

Jupiter Florida, a man was taken into a hospital after being bit by a bull shark, which is the most dangerous shark in the world. The man was spearfishing when he was bitten in his upper torso. Since he was only around three miles away from the coast he was able to rush into his boat. He received medical attention quickly after being taken to St. Mary’s Medical Center, where he was expected to be okay. 

Loggerhead Key, a woman named Heater West was attacked by a six-foot lemon shark. On January 22, 2022, 42-year-old Heater was enjoying the beautiful reef when her foot was grabbed by a huge lemon shark. Heather was looking at a small school of fish when she discovered that the sea grass underneath her had been disturbed. She had a gut feeling that something was wrong, and she began trying to exit the water. When she began to feel something pulling on her right foot, she believed it was only her friends messing around. But she was wrong, and she knew it when she felt deep pressure on her foot during a second tug. She immediately sprung into action kicking, punching, and doing all she could to fight away the enormous shark. Her foot ligaments and tendons were damaged, and the large gap in her right foot was treated.

Looe Key, ten-year-old boy Jameson Reeder Jr. was attacked by an eight-foot bull shark. Jameson was snorkeling in a shallow reef on August 13, 2022, when a bull shark attacked young Jameson below his knee. He yelled for help as he held on to a pool noodle after just being attacked. His father jumped into action as he launched into the water to save his son. His family applied a tourniquet to their son’s leg while waving down another boat nearby for help. A helicopter airlifted Jameson to Nicklaus Children’s Hospital in Miami where five quarts of blood was used to save the boy. It’s a miracle the boy was able to survive, however, he had to have part of his leg amputated. As Jameson was being taken into the hospital he said “Jesus is going to save me,” and the family is so thankful Jameson’s life was spared. 

Shark attacks are becoming more and more common in Florida as a result of climate change, which is causing sharks to swim closer to the shore, where beaches and other oceans are more populated with humans. This is only a theory, but scientists believe climate change is playing a factor for more shark attacks.