Shark injures an 8-year-old boy while diving in the Florida Keys
The boy was attacked during a dive off the coast of the Florida Keys on Labor Day
An 8-year-old boy was injured after being bitten by a shark while diving off the coast of Key Largo, Florida, on Labor Day Monday afternoon.
The Monroe County Sheriff's Office reported that the attack occurred around 3:24 p.m. The boy was rescued and taken by helicopter by Trauma Star Service to Jackson Hospital Memorial Hospital in Miami, where he is receiving specialized medical attention.
Following the incident, local authorities notified the United States Coast Guard and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to follow up on the case.
The child's current health status has not been released at this time, and an official medical report is expected in the coming hours.
An area with a history
The attack follows a string of recent shark encounters in the Florida Keys. In July, a 37-year-old man survived multiple bites from a bull shark while spearfishing near a reef off Key West.
These cases have rekindled debate about the risks of open-water recreational activities in the region, one of the most visited by tourists and diving enthusiasts.