Shark Attacks Boca Raton Girl in Waist-Deep Water Off New Smyrna Beach

A 13-year-old girl was bitten by a shark as she swam in waist-deep water off New Smyrna Beach in Volusia County on Sunday. The girl, Alexandra Masterson, was bodysurfing around 4:40 Sunday afternoon when she felt something hit her in the leg. It wasn't until she was carried out of...

By Chris Joseph

September 1, 2014

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A 13-year-old girl was bitten by a shark as she swam in waist-deep water off New Smyrna Beach in Volusia County on Sunday.

The girl, Alexandra Masterson, was bodysurfing around 4:40 Sunday afternoon when she felt something hit her in the leg.

It wasn't until she was carried out of the water that the wound in her left leg revealed bite marks.

According to WESH-TV in Orlando, Alexandra was treated on the scene and then taken to a local hospital. The the shark itself was never seen. Hospital officials believe she was bitten by a spinner shark, according to the type of wound Alexandra suffered.

Other sharks were spotted in Coca Beach, while Brevard County Ocean Rescue ordered swimmers to get out of the water in Melbourne Beach when a shark was reported to be in the area.

Alexandra's close encounter with a shark in waist-deep water marks the second time within the month a shark has bitten someone just a few feet from the shore.

Earlier in August, a man was wading around in waist-deep water in Hallandale Beach when he was bitten in the foot.

The shark bit down on the man's foot and let go after the victim thrashed around. The man was able to walk to the shore to flag down lifeguards, who immediately determined the man's wound was from a shark bite.

The man was treated and released.

As for Alexandria, she received a few stitches for her wounds. She is expected to make a full recovery.

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