Swimmer Bitten by 5-Foot Shark off South Carolina Beach

On May 23, 2021, a 26-year-old male from Okatie, South Carolina experienced an unprovoked shark encounter while swimming in the Atlantic Ocean at Burkes Beach near Hilton Head in Beaufort County. The incident occurred approximately 220 yards offshore during afternoon hours under favorable weather conditions, with air temperatures ranging from 69 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit. The swimmer reported observing fish jumping erratically around him and immediately recognized the behavior as an escape response to a predator. He began swimming toward shore, but a shark estimated at approximately 5 feet in length caught up with him roughly 50 yards from the beach. The shark bit his left heel, creating three rows of tooth marks on the bottom of the heel and a three-inch laceration near the Achilles tendon, though the tendon itself remained intact. Initially experiencing minimal pain, the swimmer continued toward shore under his own power. Upon reaching the sand and observing his bleeding ankle, he collapsed. A lifeguard and off-duty nurse provided immediate assistance while emergency medical services were called. The patient was transported to Hilton Head Hospital, where orthopedic surgery was performed to repair the ankle injury. Environmental conditions at the time included a full moon (occurring May 26), mean high tides at 05:44 and 18:40, and mean low tide at 12:15. Sea level pressure was recorded at 30.26 inches. This was classified as an unprovoked incident, and the victim's prompt decision to return to shore likely prevented more severe injury.