"Shark Attack Survivors News Archive"

07/10/2021 - Amiya Lobb-Smith 9yr -

Recent Shark Attack in 2021 Information on Shark Attacks in 2021 Latest Shark Attacks all here at Shark Attack Survivors
Post Reply
alb
Posts: 1569
Joined: Fri Jun 18, 2010 7:41 pm

07/10/2021 - Amiya Lobb-Smith 9yr -

Post by alb »

9-year-old bitten by shark at Bathtub Beach in Martin County July 10, needed 25 to 30 stitches

A 9-year-old girl was bitten on the foot by what she said was a shark at Bathtub Beach in Martin County July 10, with injuries requiring 25 to 30 stitches.

Amiya Lobb-Smith, a rising fourth-grader at Treasure Coast Elementary in Sebastian, was in the ocean with a few friends at about 4:30 p.m. when she ran out of the water, said her mother, Ana Lobb.

Amiya was in shock, unable to speak, Lobb said, when she looked down and saw "a bunch of holes and gashes" on her daughter's foot covered in sand.

Martin County Fire Rescue responded and took Amiya to Cleveland Clinic Martin North Hospital, Lobb said.

About 5 hours later, Amiya was transported to see a specialist at Cleveland Clinic Tradition Hospital in St. Lucie County.

Amiya stayed in the hospital for two nights, Lobb said, where she underwent a procedure to deep-clean the wounds, at least one of which was to the bone, and received 25 to 30 stitches.

Read our shark bite database of encounters on the Treasure Coast back to 2010

"It was a nightmare," Lobb said. "But, it could have been a lot worse."

Amiya is a smart girl, her mother said, and she knew not to freak out.

Instead, Amiya used her other leg to kick the shark away as to not cause more injury to the foot that was bit.

"When it bit her foot, she said she knew if she pulled it would’ve taken the flesh and meat off her bones," Lobb said. "So she kicked it, and then was able to get away."

Ocean conditions July 10 were fairly bad, said Fire Rescue official Shawn Lisowy, with cloudy water.

Though Lisowy said the species of shark involved in the attack was undetermined, Lobb said she believes it was about a 4-foot spinner shark.

Sharks, especially spinner sharks, named for the spinning leaps they make as a part of their feeding strategy, are known to migrate along Florida's east coast. Sharks often feed on bait fish near the surface of the water as they migrate, marine biologists have said.

Amiya may need cosmetic surgery in the future, Lobb said, but is currently in a four-week healing period in a soft cast and using crutches. She has remained optimistic throughout the traumatic experience.

"She’s had this incredible attitude toward it this entire time," Lobb said. "I’ve had a harder time with this than she had, honestly. She's been my strength."

This is at least the fourth shark bite this year. Three others were in Indian River County:

On March 25, a girl said she was bitten by something in the ocean about 3 miles south of Wabasso Beach Park at John's Island Club beach in Indian River Shores. Club manager Brian Kroh said lifeguards described the girl's injuries as "relatively minor."
On March 30, a man was bitten on the foot by a shark near Disney's Vero Beach Resort, which is next to Wabasso Beach Park. The man was bitten on his left foot, according to a witness.
On April 29, a 54-year-old man boogie boarding in the ocean near Disney's Vero Beach Resort, appeared to have been bitten twice by a shark. He was taken to Sebastian River Medical Center with leg wounds to his calf and near his knee.




https://www.tcpalm.com
We have another tool we are building at https://sharkattacks.net
Post Reply

Return to “2021 Shark Attacks Recent Shark Attack in 2021”