THE ALLEGED shark capital of the world is at a popular US beach spot and has been already hit by three brutal attacks this year.
New Smyrna Beach, Florida, took the title after a string of terrifying encounters with the dangerous predators in recent years.
In the most recent attack, a 28-year-old surfer was bitten just before noon on Sunday.
The man fell off of his surfboard and was bitten on his left foot.
Volusia County Beach Safety Ocean Rescue Capt. Alex Miller told the Sun the surfer only had minor injuries.
This comes as two men in their early twenties, a fisherman and a surfer, suffered bites to their legs and feet, respectively, in March.
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Just last week, Addison Bethea, 17, lost part of her leg to a shark attack on Florida's Keaton Beach, off the northwestern coast.
She was hunting for scallops when she was bit by the nine-foot shark.
Last September a 16-year- old boy was bitten in the arm in New Smyrna Beach while surfing.
He needed nine stitches.
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Daytona Beach News-Journal reports two more people were attacked in May OF 2021 on the same beach.
One was a 21-year-old woman wading in 4 feet of water, and the other was a twelve-year-old girl surfing.
June and July of 2021 saw at least three more attacks each.
On June 14 alone, a 71-year-old man was bitten standing on a boogie board in shallow water and a 12-year-old boy was bitten on the arm surfing.
Just four days later, another 12-year-old was bitten on the arm and taken to the hospital.
An 8-year-old boy was bitten in knee-deep water last Fourth of July and needed to be hospitalized
That same month, an 11-year-old was taken to the hospital after being bit while boogie boarding, and a man was bit while ishing.
In August, a man was a bit on his foot with very minor injures.
The increase in shark sightings has been reported earlier than usual this summer.
Warming temperature waters, bunker fish and seal populations can lure them to the waters.
According to the International Shark Attack File (ISAF), Volusia County has an annual average of nine unprovoked shark attacks per year.
Of the 73 unprovoked shark bites in the United States in 2021, 64 percent – or 47 bites – took place near U.S. shores.
Of Florida’s 28 unprovoked shark bites, 63 percent — or 17 bites were in Volusia County.
Gavin Naylor, ISAF’s manager, told Spectrum news the chances of getting bit by a shark in New Smyrna Beach are 10 times higher than anywhere in the world.
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Even still, the overall chances of experiencing an attack are low, and most attacks are not severe, Naylor said.
“You’re far more likely to get involved in a fender bender driving to New Smyrna Beach,” he said.
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