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Man bitten by shark in Outer Banks while trying to get others to safety

Posted at 12:35 PM, Jun 26, 2015
and last updated 2015-06-26 12:35:24-04

Avon, N.C. - A man was bitten by a shark off of Avon, North Carolina on Friday while trying to encourage several other people to get out of the water.

The National Park Service received a report from the Dare County Sheriff's Office around 11: 41 a.m. that a person had been apparently bitten by a shark approximately one mile north of the Avon Fishing Pier.

The victim, a 47-year-old man, was in the water with three children and another adult when he allegedly spotted the shark and yelled "Shark!" The victim was able to get the other four people out of the water before he was attacked.

The man received injuries to his right leg and back. It is believed that his injuries are non-life threatening.

Hatteras Island Rescue Squad paramedics and NPS Rangers responded to the scene. The man was treated at the scene before being transported via ambulance and helicopter to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital.

Red flags are up in the area to warn people to stay out of the water.

The attack is the fifth off the North Carolina coast this month.

On Wednesday, an 8-year-old boy suffered what appeared to be a shark bite. Police said the wounds were superficial and the injuries were minor.

On June 14, a 12-year-old girl from Archdale and a 16-year-old boy from Colorado both lost their arms in shark attacks at Oak Island.

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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