Volusia County Beach Safety: Daytona surfer bitten on foot by a shark on Sunday in New Smyrna; 38 people rescued from rough surf

Photo for Headline Surfer / Screenshot of Volusia County Beach Cam pointing north from the Dunlawton Avenue beach ramp in Daytona Beach Shores, Florida, at 3:43 p.m. Sunday, July 3, 2022. Since the start of the Fourth of July holiday weekend on Friday, there are have been a total of 41 rescues in the surf along 47 miles of Volusia County beaches.

By HENRY FREDERICK / Headline Surfer

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Volusia County Beach responded to a report of a surfer bitten by a shark on Sunday morning in New Smyrna and dealt with 38 rescues from the rough surf.

Here is a synopsis of what occurred Sunday, along the 47 miles of Volusia Counties' beaches as reported in an email media alert to Headline Surfer: At 11:49 am, Sunday, a 28-year-old man from Daytona Beach was surfing next to the New Smyrna Jetty when he fell off of his board and was bitten on the left foot, presumably by a shark. His injuries were not life-threatening and he was driven to the hospital by a friend.

Here is a synopsis of what occurred Sunday, along the 47 miles of Volusia Counties' beaches as reported in an email media alert to Headline Surfer: At 11:49 am, Sunday, a 28-year-old man from Daytona Beach was surfing next to the New Smyrna Jetty when he fell off of his board and was bitten on the left foot, presumably by a shark. His injuries were not life-threatening and he was driven to the hospital by a friend.

This was the third reported shark bite incident so far this year. The previous two shark bite incidents also occurred in New Smyrna Beach.

Beach Safety flew the red flag (warning for rough surf and rip currents) and rescued 38 people out of the ocean on Sunday with intermittent rain showers throughout the day on this Fourth of July holiday weekend. 

So far during this extended Fourth of July holiday weekend, these are the number of daily rescues as provided by Beach Safety personnel: Friday: 3 rescues; Saturday: 3 rescues; Sunday: 38 rescues for a three-day total of 44 rescues so far this holiday weekend.

Beach safety reminds the public that fireworks are prohibited on Volusia County Beaches, even on July 4th.

Henry Frederick bio / Headline Surfer

About the Byline Writer: Henry Frederick is a member of the working press and publisher of Headline Surfer, the award-winning 24/7 internet news outlet launched in 2008, that serves greater Daytona Beach, Sanford & Orlando from Lake Mary, Florida via HeadlineSurfer.com. Frederick has amassed close to 150 award-winning bylines in print & online. He earned his Master of Arts in New Media Journalism from Full Sail University in 2019. He was a breaking news reporter (metro cops & courts beat) for the Daytona Beach News-Journal for nearly a decade. And Before that worked the same beat for The Journal-News/Gannett Suburban Newspapers in Rockland/Westchester counties, NY, dating back to 1989. Having witnessed the execution of serial killer Aileen Wuornos in Florida's death chamber and covering other high profile cases, Frederick has appeared on national crime documentary shows on Discovery ID, Reelz, and the Oxygen Network series "Snapped" for his analysis. • Award-Winning Journalism: Florida Press Club recognizes Headline Surfer for nine stories in 2020 statewide competition. • Award-Winning Journalism of Henry Frederick.