An 8-year-old boy was critically injured in Florida yesterday after being attacked by a shark while snorkeling with his family near Key Largo.
Attack Details
The family of four was snorkeling off the coast of Key Largo when the boy was attacked above the knee, causing significant blood loss. Emergency response arrived quickly and took the critically injured child to the hospital, where he underwent emergency surgery.
Key Largo’s Risky Waters
While incidents like this are rare, Key Largo boasts some of the highest shark attack risks in the US due to its abundance of marine life and underwater attractions like the second-largest artificial coral reef in the world. New Smyrna Beach, another nearby popular destination, holds the record for the most shark attacks in the US since 1962, with 277 incidents.
National Statistics
Florida accounts for a significant portion of unprovoked shark attacks in the US, with 50% of incidents occurring in the state last year. According to The Guardian, 47 unprovoked attacks worldwide in 2024 resulted in 28 occurring in the US, with 14 of those happening in Florida.
