Watersound & Inlet Beach shark attack in Walton County Florida

[850tribe]

I’m married to a surfer and we both grew up on the gulf. We have taught our boys respect for the water and the creatures in it. With that being said, shark attacks happen. I was at the beach with our sons and sadly a woman was attacked by a shark. Her injuries were very serious and I’m almost certain she lost her hand and her torso was bit. The emergency vehicles arrived quickly and the response was swift. We saw a few sharks on our beach walk this morning and often admire them in passing. Other than being aware, we just have to remember we are in their territory when we swim. Sending this woman and her family positive, healing vibes!

 

[Matt J]

I'm not victim blaming only asking.

Did her bathing suit have sequins or other sparkly material? I know little girls love that kind of stuff and it's fine in a pool or lake, but sharks will see the sparkle as bait fish and go for it.

We've never let our nieces wear a bathing suit with anything shiny or sparkly, nor do we allow them in the water near dawn or dusk and last but not least; if we eat at the beach we wash our hands before we get back in the water to avoid sending out scent trails of food.

When they both hit puberty their mother explained they wouldn't be able to get in the water for 3-5 days a month and we actually planned visits around that.

 

[Althea352]

Second attack at Inlet.

 

[raven316]

Not much information except for the headline?

https://www.mypanhandle.com/news/shark-attack-reported-near-inlet-beach/

UPDATE: As of 3:00 pm Walton County Sheriff’s Office and South Walton Fire District are responding to a second shark incident following multiple reports involving a teenager.

Officials are responding to the area of Shoreline Drive. The water is now closed to the public in Walton County and Bay County.

WALTON COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – One person was reportedly injured after a shark incident near Watersound in Walton County on Friday.

Just after 1:15 p.m., Walton County Fire and Rescue and South Walton Fire District (SWFD) responded to a report of a woman who was injured by a shark near Watersound Way and Coopersmith Lane, according to Walton County’s Facebook page.

The person has been identified as a 40-year-old woman and she has lost her left hand.

Double red flags are now flying on the beaches in the surrounding area. The Gulf is now closed to the public in Walton County in the localized area of the incident.

 

[850tribe]

We were still down at the beach after we witnessed the first one, then the sirens started all over again as the same responders were heading east of us to a second attack. So strange.

 

[Poppaj]

 

[Duchess]

I'm not victim blaming only asking.

Did her bathing suit have sequins or other sparkly material? I know little girls love that kind of stuff and it's fine in a pool or lake, but sharks will see the sparkle as bait fish and go for it.

We've never let our nieces wear a bathing suit with anything shiny or sparkly, nor do we allow them in the water near dawn or dusk and last but not least; if we eat at the beach we wash our hands before we get back in the water to avoid sending out scent trails of food.

When they both hit puberty their mother explained they wouldn't be able to get in the water for 3-5 days a month and we actually planned visits around that.

I'm a female with lots of experience both as a female and as a scuba diver. Staying out of the water during one's period is bunk, just nonsense. It's about as useful as staying out of a pool for 30 minutes after you've eaten something.

 

[Imperialegg]

To everyone reading this, let's be clear it was was Seagrove and Seaside where the shark attacks were, they did not occur in Inlet Beach, as falsely reported in the related news article.

 

[Jane]

Walton County beaches were closed Friday afternoon due to two shark attacks that injured three people, two of them critically.

According to the Walton County Sheriff's Office, Walton County Fire Rescue and South Walton Fire District responded to a report that a woman was injured by a shark near Watersound Way and Coopersmith Lane just after 1:15 p.m. Friday.

The South Walton Fire District transported the victim to a local medical facility. At a 5 p.m. news conference, officials said the woman, age 45, lost her lower left arm and suffered injuries to her midsection. She was hospitalized in critical condition.

They said she was swimming past the first sandbar when she was injured.

Watch the press conference about the shark attacks here.

As for the second attack: About 2:56 p.m., the Walton County Sheriff's Office and the South Walton Fire District responded to an area near Inlet Beach. According to the Walton County Sheriff's Office, two people were injured.

At the press conference, officials said the victims were ages 15 to 17. They were in waist-deep water just past the first sandbar, about 4 miles from the site of the first attack. One victim was hospitalized in critical condition and one in stable condition.

Double-red flags are now flying on beaches in the surrounding area, meaning the Gulf of Mexico waters are closed. Those found violating the warning will be fined $500.

Because of this, all Walton County beaches will be closed for the rest of the day Friday.

Also, neighboring Bay County closed its beaches.

According to trackingsharks.com, the incidents in Walton County are the first three shark-related incidents in Florida in 2024.

 

[850tribe]

We were at Watersound Beach 100 yards from
where the first attack occurred. Sadly, we witnessed the entire thing. The second attack on the two teenagers was further east in Seacrest Beach. We live in Seacrest and our address is Inlet Beach as is our zipcode, it’s confusing, but that is how these little beach towns work. Similar to Grayton Beach being considered in Santa Rosa Beach. Neither of the attacks were in Seagrove or Seaside.