VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Four people were bitten by something in the water in the Sandbridge area of Virginia Beach, including two who had to be taken to the hospital, according to Virginia Beach EMS. Officials tell us they aren't sure what hurt the victims and the possibility of shark bites hasn't been ruled out.
One of the people who went to the hospital was 10-year-old Vivienne Butler. She felt something bite her foot while swimming at Sandbridge Beach before 9:30 a.m. last Thursday, her family says.
They said it happened while the family was playing in the waves, not even knee-deep in the water.
Lifeguards attended to Vivienne before the ambulance arrived. She was taken to Sentara Virginia Beach General, where she got eight stitches in her right foot, her family says.
Andrew Van Slyke, Vivienne’s stepdad, says they didn’t see what bit her because the water was dark but he thinks it could have been a baby shark.
When News 3 spoke to Vivienne’s family about a week after the bite incident, they said she was feeling good. She’s hoping to get the stitches removed in two weeks so she can get back to playing softball, they added.
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Officials say two people, including Vivienne, were bitten on Thursday, June 20. Another person was bitten on Sunday, June 23. It's unclear when the fourth incident happened, although EMS says it was recent.
Of the four incidents, two people were okay enough to leave the beach, EMS says. However, two others had to be taken to the hospital, EMS added. One of them is Vivienne, who's recovering. The condition of the other person who was taken to the hospital is unknown at this time.
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The four injured people all said they felt something bite them, officials say. While they're not 100% certain what bit them, officials say they haven't ruled out the possibility of shark attacks.
Virginia Beach EMS says they haven't received confirmation from healthcare officials yet but once they do, they'll have more answers.
The bites happened across the Sandbridge area during different times of the day, EMS added.
