A Navy base employee is in critical condition after being attacked by a shark off the coast of Panama City, in the Florida panhandle. The incident has prompted concern along that stretch of coastline, where the man was bitten while in the water and left with serious wounds.
According to the Navy, the man was swimming near a marina when the shark attacked him. The suddenness of the encounter turned an ordinary moment in the water into an emergency, with the victim suffering injuries to his arms during the attack.
He was taken to the hospital in critical condition. The severity of his wounds underlined how dangerous such an attack can be, even close to shore, and added to the unease among people who live and spend time along the panhandle coast.
Experts point out that the waters near the panhandle are a nursery for several shark species, which helps explain why encounters are not unheard of in the area. The combination of warm summer waters and the natural habitat of these animals means sharks can be present closer to where people swim.
Their behavior, however, varies considerably from one species to another. Some sharks simply move inshore and offshore depending on the water temperature, heading further out when it drops into the 60s. Others undertake very broad migrations, with some species traveling all the way down to South Florida and southern areas of the Gulf.
In light of the attack, experts are urging caution from anyone heading into the water. They advise people not to swim in areas where there may be fishing, which can attract sharks, and recommend that anyone who does encounter a shark try to remain calm rather than panic, as the search for more information about the incident continues.