After Rare Shark Attack, Man Walks Home Bleeding: Report

SARASOTA, FL — The victim of Tuesday morning’s shark attack in Siesta Key waters has been identified as a 39-year-old man, the Herald-Tribune reported. After his arm and hand were bitten while he was swimming, he walked home.

A woman called 911 for the victim around 8:24 a.m. and told 911 operators that he was alert but “bleeding to death,” reports said. The dispatcher directed her on how to stop the bleeding while they waited for paramedics to arrive.

It took the Sarasota County Fire Department about 10 minutes to get to their Point of Rocks Circle home. SCFD brought the victim to Sarasota Memorial Hospital for treatment.

While Sarasota Memorial staff has confirmed the injury was a shark bite, they wouldn’t release any other information about the victim or incident, the Herald-Tribune said.

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Shark attacks are rare in Sarasota County. The last one occurred in 2007, WFTS reported. The county has seen only seven recorded shark bites since 1882. Shark bites are more frequent on Florida’s East Coast.