[Tarpon]

I saw the surfer guy on TV, he said he never hit the shark, never was bumped by the shark. In one instance the shark swam towards him -- He said he then slapped the water with his hands and the shark swam away -- that's about par for bull shark. They are not very big, eight feet is max size, but most are much smaller. They are not overly aggressive, generally not attacking humans, but YMMV.

He also said he planned to go back surfing as soon as the beach opened as he knew the shark have been there all along and didn't worry him.

These shark are all along the beaches of the gulf every summer. I remember 35 years ago flying out of Tampa and seeing hundreds of these bull shark just out of sight of the swimmers -- probably 100-200 yards from the beach.

Media hype not withstanding, if you swim with sharks you need to know a little about them. A divers knife strapped to your leg is much more effective than is punching them in the nose. Fortunately I have had to do neither. I surf fish and a sure way to have a shark bite you is to tie caught fish to your belt. Best to take any caught fish to the shore.

[ken5050]

Excellent points.I would surmize from the brief description of the wound to her leg, that the shark punctured the femoral artery, and she tragically bled out.

[Tallguy]

The Bull Shark is probably responsible for more attacks than any other species. It hunts in the surf zone where it 'feels' for it's food in the turbid water. That's were human bathers can be found.

It tends to hit fast & hard and can snap a leg like a matchstick. If that isn't 'aggressive' I don't know what is.