Woman Survives Shark Attack in Miami
Shark takes a big chunk of leg, but misses artery
By CARLOS MILLER
Updated 4:35 PM EST, Sun, Jul 5, 2009
It’s bad enough that Miami’s beaches are swarming with male predators leering at the bare-breasted ladies sunning themselves on the sand.
But now it is not even safe to go into the water.
On Saturday, as many Americans celebrated Independence Day by stripping down to their bathing suits and frolicking on the beach, one woman stepped into the water at Biscayne National Park in Homestead.
She felt something slimy bump her leg. When she looked down, she realized a shark had just bitten her.
Although she began bleeding, she was lucky.
''It took a big chunk out of her leg, but luckily missed an artery,'' said Lt. Arnold Piedrahita of the Miami-Dade Fire Rescue.
According to The Miami Herald, the 43-year-old woman was rushed to Baptist Memorial Hospital where she was said to be stable and talking.
She was believed to have been bitten by a nurse shark, which are common in Florida and typically reside in shallow waters.
The Miami-Dade Fire Rescue gave the following tips to avoid being bitten by sharks.
- Avoid swimming in the evening or night when there is no lifeguard on duty. Sharks normally feed at this time.
- Avoid swimming alone.
- Sharks are attracted to bait fish. In Florida the bait fish typically have off-white or yellow bellies and shiny scales.
- Avoid swimming when the ocean visibility is poor.
- Look for signs of bait fish -- groups of small fish normally gathering together in a group. Bait fish can appear like a dark moving cloud in the water.
- Look for signs of large fish in the area (jumping, splashing, swirls or fins cutting through the water). This could indicate sharks, tarpon, or any other potentially dangerous predator.
First Published: Jul 5, 2009 10:45 AM EST
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