Shark Bite at Hilton Head?

[DVCLiz]

Gosh, I just heard a news report on the radio that a 7 year old girl had been bitten by a shark while playing in two feet of water at Hilton Head. They actually found a shark's tooth embedded in her leg, I think. Anybody there with details???

I'd love anyone with updates or current conditions to post for the next few weeks, for those of us scheduled with trips later in the summer. I know the chances are remote, but we'd like to be prepared if they have a series of incidents occuring or make any changes to beach access.

Hope the little girl is OK!!!

 

[dis-happy]

Try here:
http://www.islandpacket.com/news/local/story/5798046p-5179584c.html


Ack. No more late night swims under the moonlight for me.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Wow, add that to our list of reasons why we don't go to Hilton Head in the summer time. We've seen alligators (a few in people's backyards), but fortunately not sharks!

 

[lisaviolet]

I was there in March. I was about up to my knees in the water and I looked and saw a shark fin about oh I don't know....very close ...but not frighteningly close. At the time I was surprised, excited and mesmerized to see it.

I certainly wouldn't be any of the above to have it any closer...near me or my loved ones or anyone else for that matter. It must have been so scary for her and her family.

 

[byoung]

Hope she is ok.

 

[DisneyTarheel]

Man, I'm glad I didn't see this before our trip last week.

 

[MagikMom]

Okay, here's the deal. We are leaving in 4 weeks for our first trip to HH. My 13 year old daughter has already said that she's not going to swim in the ocean there because she is afraid of sharks. If she ever hears about this, FORGET IT! I won't even be able to get her on the beach, never mind in the water!

 

[DVCLiz]

Okay, here's the deal. We are leaving in 4 weeks for our first trip to HH. My 13 year old daughter has already said that she's not going to swim in the ocean there because she is afraid of sharks. If she ever hears about this, FORGET IT! I won't even be able to get her on the beach, never mind in the water!

Thank goodness they have TWO pools!!! My DDs love going in the ocean, but they aren't going to be very happy if it's still "sharky" when we go in July. I know sharks are just a fact of life in Atlantic summer waters, but I don't want to see one at my feet!!

 

[CarolA]

I used to summer in HH with my grandparents and we took several tours offered by the museum at the time.

My mother specifically asked about Sharks. I don't recall all the info, but the "sharks" they have off the S. Carolina shore are more the "small type" not the huge ones that the surfers get into trouble with. (As is evideneced by the fact that the Island Packet indicated they initially thought this was a stingray bite!) Also if you see large fins out in the ocean take a DEEP breath before you panic... chances are VERY VERY high that they are Dolphins!!! (In over 15 years of summering there I only saw dolphins.... once you know you can tell by the shape of thier fins. ) I would routinely hear moms hauling junior out of the water yelling SHARK when the rounded fins clearly indicated dolphins LOL!

 

[Doug Wolfe]

This was the first shark attack at HH since 1994. There has not been a fatal attack since the 1800's at HH.

I think we have gotten our HH shark attacks out of the way for this decade.

We were at HH last year and I saw a few people pointing toward the water and commenting on the "sharks." They were actually dolphins and we saw them virtually every day.

 

[DVCLiz]

This was the first shark attack at HH since 1994. There has not been a fatal attack since the 1800's at HH.

I think we have gotten our HH shark attacks out of the way for this decade.

We were at HH last year and I saw a few people pointing toward the water and commenting on the "sharks." They were actually dolphins and we saw them virtually every day.

Ah, thanks, Doug. Those are very reassuring statistics!!! There's nothing I love more than seeing the dolphins at HH, even from the beach. This time I may bring a pair of binoculars to help me spot them. And I'll try not to let that music (dun duh, dun duh, dununununaaaaah!!!!!!) start playing in my head....