Ocracoke Island, N.C. - Another shark attack has been reported on the Outer Banks, this time off Ocracoke Island, according to Hyde County EMS.
Lifeguards contacted Hyde County EMS at 12:10 p.m. Wednesday afternoon regarding an injured swimmer at the National Park Service Day Use Area on Ocracoke.
Hyde County EMS, National Park Service rangers, the Hyde County Sheriff’s Department, and members of the Ocracoke Volunteer Fire Department responded and found that a man had been bitten multiple times during an encounter with a shark.
The man was swimming when he encountered a bullshark, approximately six to seven feet long. The shark pulled the man under the water and bit him multiple times on his rib cage, hip, lower leg, and both hands, according to Hyde County EMS.
First responders were able to stabilize the man before he was flown to Vidant Medical Center in Greenville for further treatment. National Parks Service spokesperson Cyndy Holda reports that the man is 68-years-old.
Hyde County EMS reports they will have two ambulances with paramedic level service available with a third on call for the Fourth of July weekend.
Wednesday's attack marks the seventh incident on North Carolina beaches in June and July. Last year, there were only four reported in the state through the summer.
Last week, two people were bitten by sharks near Cape Hatteras.
On Friday, a 47-year-old man was bitten by a shark in the leg and back while trying to get children and another adult out of the water near Avon.
On Saturday, an 18-year-old was swimming with other people near Waves when the shark bit his calf, buttocks and both hands.
Both victims were rushed from the beach and underwent surgery.
In South Carolina, a shark attack also took place Friday morning at Hunting Island State Park. The male victim was taken to Beaufort Memorial Hospital for treatment. No further information was available about the victim or the extent of his injuries.
On Wednesday, an 8-year-old boy in Surf City suffered what appeared to be a shark bite. Police said the wounds were superficial and the injuries were minor.
On June 14, 12-year-old Kiersten Yow from North Carolina and a 16-year-old boy from Colorado both lost their arms in shark attacks at Oak Island.
Yow lost her left arm below the elbow and suffered injuries to her left leg. Hunter Treschl lost an arm.
A 13-year-old girl was bitten while boogie boarding off Ocean Isle Beach on June 11. In that incident, the victim suffered non-life threatening injuries, but the shark took bites of her boogie board.
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