Shark Bites 9-Year-Old Minnesota Boy Visiting Miami Beach: Report

MIAMI BEACH, FL — A shark attacked a 9-year-old boy visiting Miami Beach with his family Sunday, WPLG Local 10 reported.

The shark bit a chunk from Jay Weiskopf’s shoulder when he was in the water with his mother, Kristine Weiskopf, who was holding his hand the whole time, reports said. When he fell on his stomach, she pulled him up and noticed the bite.

“He just said, ‘Ow,’ and I looked down and there was about a 4-foot gray shark just kinda swimming away, so I just scooped him up and ran him up the beach,” Kristine said.

Miami Beach Fire Rescue responded to the family’s call for help, meeting them on the sand near Third Street, reports said. Jay was brought to Jackson Memorial Hospital, where he was rushed into surgery.

His father, Ren Weiskopf, told Local 10 that the family is still “in shock,” but they’re “thankful” their son survived. He also expressed concern that other beachgoers could be in danger.

“What I don’t like right now is that the beach is still open, and kids are still down there playing, and they are in the same spot where my son just got attacked. I don’t know if it’s just because of spring break of whatever, but the beach should be closed,” Ren said.

According to the Florida Museum of History’s International Shark Attack File, there have been only 17 shark attacks in Miami-Dade County since 1882. In nearby counties, Broward has 15 recorded attacks and Palm Beach has 80 attacks in that same period.

Shark bites are more frequent further north along Florida’s East Coast. Volusia County has seen the most shark attacks with 320 recorded. Brevard County has the second highest number of recorded shark attacks with 153.