Swimmer Bitten by Shark While Clinging to Raft off North Carolina Beach

On Friday, July 15, 2005, at approximately 3:30 p.m., a 22-year-old male from Virginia was swimming in waist-deep water approximately 15 to 20 yards from shore near the 600 block of Ocean Boulevard in Holden Beach, Brunswick County, North Carolina. The beach was crowded with hundreds of visitors, and the victim had been in the water for about 15 to 20 minutes when his friend paddled a raft out to join him. As the victim grabbed the raft to help pull it through the murky green water, a shark approximately 4.5 to 5 feet in length suddenly bit his extended left forearm. The victim immediately punched the shark on its snout, causing it to release him and swim away. He and his friend quickly returned to shore. Upon reaching the beach, the victim washed his wounds with a hose at a nearby house. Emergency Medical Services arrived within 15 minutes and transported him to Brunswick Community Hospital, where he arrived approximately 45 minutes after the bite. Medical examination revealed severe lacerations on both the dorsal and ventral surfaces of the left forearm, along with a crescent-shaped series of puncture wounds. Additional lacerations extended from the base of the palm to the thumb area. The shark's bite caused damage to a tendon and the radial nerve. Shark teeth fragments were recovered from the victim's arm during treatment. The victim underwent surgical repair of the wounds and was released from the hospital within two days. He subsequently received follow-up care from a physician in Virginia. Conditions at the time of the incident included sunny weather with water temperatures between 85 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit, murky visibility of 2 to 3 feet, and a strong westerly current. Notable context included reports that small sharks had been caught in the surf throughout the week, and fishing activities were occurring approximately 150 feet from the incident site.