Second shark attack in two days reported on Hatteras

An 18-year-old man was transported to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital late this afternoon after having apparently been bitten by a shark while swimming off the beach in Waves in the Cape Hatteras National Seashore.

According to the National Park Service, the man was in about 3 feet of water about 20 feet from shore when the incident happened at about 4 p.m. He was swimming with several others when the incident occurred, but according to the NPS, no other swimmers were injured.

The Park Service said the victim suffered injuries to his calf, buttocks, and both hands.  He was treated at the scene by Dare County Emergency Medical Services and Chicamacomico Banks Rescue Squad then transferred to Dare Medflight for the trip to Norfolk. His injuries are not thought to be life-threatening.

It is the second apparent shark attack on Hatteras Island in two days.  A 47-year-old man was bitten yesterday while in relatively shallow water in Avon, about a mile north of the Avon Fishing Pier.

And this is the sixth shark attack reported this month in North Carolina.  Four others have occurred south of the Outer Banks — two at Oak Island and one each at Ocean Isle and Surf City.

Before yesterday, the last reported shark attack on the seashore was in 2012 when a woman was bitten on her leg while she was swimming in shallow water near the Avon Fishing Pier.