Incident Report
Surfer Bitten by Blacktip Shark Off Fort Pierce, Florida
Hutchinson Island, Florida·United States
A male surfer in his 60s sustained a severe calf injury when bitten by a blacktip shark off Fort Pierce Inlet State Park on September 7, 2018. Lifeguards had observed multiple blacktip sharks in the area moments before the incident. The victim was transported to a local trauma hospital in serious condition.
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Incident Profile
Circumstances
Environmental
Individual
Location
Description
On the morning of September 7, 2018, a male surfer in his 60s was bitten by a blacktip shark while surfing in the Atlantic Ocean off Fort Pierce Inlet State Park in St. Lucie County, Florida. The incident occurred at approximately 9:29 AM under fair weather conditions with calm winds and moderate temperatures of 82°F. Lifeguards monitoring the area from a nearby tower had documented concerning activity in the water shortly before the attack. They observed large schools of baitfish being actively pursued by multiple predators, including several blacktip sharks approximately one mile from where the surfer was in the water. These environmental indicators suggested heightened shark feeding activity in the region. The shark inflicted a severe bite wound to the surfer's calf. Emergency services responded promptly, and the victim was transported by ambulance to a local trauma hospital where he was admitted in serious condition. The attack was classified as unprovoked, as the surfer was engaged in normal recreational activity with no apparent provocation of the animal. This incident exemplifies the importance of heeding environmental warnings and lifeguard observations. The presence of feeding activity and multiple sharks in an area can significantly increase the risk of human-shark interaction during water activities.