A woman, bitten by a small nurse shark, in Boca Raton was not able to get the shark to release it’s grip, and ended up heading to the hospital with the shark still attached.
Although the exact cause of the attack is unclear, an eyewitness saw a group grabbing the shark by the tail, moments before the attack occurred.
The Park Service says people swim near nurse sharks every day without realizing it and without incident. “Attacks” are rare and typically are the result of the shark being bothered with a hook, spear or hand.
“The bite reflex is such that it may be some minutes before a quietly re-immersed nurse shark will relax and release its tormenter,” the park service says. Nurse sharks have razor sharp but small teeth that seldom penetrate deeply: “Holding still reduces damage to both shark and man. Leaving sharks alone is the best tactic,” the Park Service says.
The shark, obviously, did not survive the ordeal, but the woman was treated for minor injuries.