Local Man Fights Off Horrific Shark Attack in North Carolina

A Wareham man was seriously injured in a North Carolina shark attack Wednesday.

Andrew Costello, 67, is a former editor-in-chief of the Boston Herald.

He was swimming in the Ocracoke Island area of the Outer Banks when a 7-foot grey shark chomped all over his body and pulled him underwater, according to Hyde County Emergency Services. The shark bit him on the rib cage, hip, leg, and hands. He fought off the attack and made it back to shore, officials said. He was then flown by a medical helicopter to Vidant Medical Center in Greenville, where he was listed in fair condition.

It was the seventh shark attack in North Carolina so far this season, according to CNN.

Last month, a shark bit off the arms of two teenagers in another series of shark attacks in North Carolina.

Also last month, a great white shark was spotted off the cost of Orleans in Cape Cod. Researchers captured these photos:

Great white sharks have a well-documented summertime presence in Cape Cod waters—especially last year.

In September on the Plymouth coast, a great white shark chomped a kayak with two women inside. They were not hurt.

A few weeks earlier, a Duxbury beach was evacuated after a State Police helicopter captured a photo of this great white:

Credit: Duxbury Fire Department

Cape Cod researchers last year launched a submarine robot to track a great white—the shark then stalked the robot and attacked it several times, “Jaws”-style:

Photo credit: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute