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14-Year-Old Girl Dies in Fla. Shark Attack
AP ^ | 6/25/05

Posted on 06/25/2005 2:19:19 PM PDT by Tumbleweed_Connection

A 14-year-old girl died Saturday after a shark attacked her while she and a companion were swimming in the Gulf of Mexico, authorities said.

The teenagers were swimming on boogie boards about 100 yards offshore when they noticed a dark shadow in the water, authorities said.

"One of the swimmers was bitten. It was the lower portions of her body," said Walton County Sheriff's spokeswoman Donna Shank. The other swimmer was not injured.

Both girls swam to shore, and the victim was taken to a hospital where she was pronounced dead, Shank said. The girl was on vacation from Louisiana, but her name was not immediately released.

The attack happened near the Camping on the Gulf Holiday Travel Park, about 45 miles east of Pensacola on the Florida Panhandle.

Patrick O'Neill, the campground's general manager, refused to comment.

Authorities closed about 20 miles of beaches to swimming shortly after the attack. It's the height of the summer tourism season along the coast and the beaches were packed with people.

"This doesn't happen very often at all — very, very seldom," said Mike McKee, front desk supervisor at the nearby Hilton Sandestin Beach Resort and Spa.

Florida had the largest number of documented shark attacks worldwide in 2003 with 30, according to statistics compiled by the American Elasmobranch Society and the Florida Museum of Natural History. There were 12 attacks off the coast of Florida last year.


TOPICS: Extended News; US: Florida
KEYWORDS: florida; news; shark
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To: catpuppy

Oh. I hadn't thought about the storms' affect on the sand.


21 posted on 06/25/2005 2:44:26 PM PDT by nuconvert (No More Axis of Evil by Christmas ! TLR) [there's a lot of bad people in the pistachio business])
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To: Calico Cat

There is a chance you will die in a car crash tomorrow. Do you stop driving?

This is really sad though.


22 posted on 06/25/2005 2:44:35 PM PDT by rwfromkansas (http://www.xanga.com/home.aspx?user=rwfromkansas)
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To: Log

And they'll claim to have proof that Bush gave orders to Rummy to make it happen.


23 posted on 06/25/2005 2:44:44 PM PDT by TGOGary (I would blow my brains out before ever wearing a blue beret!)
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To: Txsleuth
"Walton County in Florida and there has NEVER been a shark attack recorded in that area"

It is new to me. We always called it the redneck Rivera.
I have spent quite a few times there, and had friends with a house at Ft Walton Beach.
I never heard of sharks being in the area.

And, as another poster mentioned, 100 yards is pretty far out, but the gulf is pretty tame unless a storm comes close.
24 posted on 06/25/2005 2:46:25 PM PDT by AlexW (Reporting from Bratislava)
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To: catpuppy

ping


25 posted on 06/25/2005 2:46:42 PM PDT by null and void (No man's life, liberty, or property are safe as long as court is in session)
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To: cajungirl

The most dangerous is a big fat old Democrat Senator driving near water.


26 posted on 06/25/2005 2:47:19 PM PDT by CROSSHIGHWAYMAN
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To: rwfromkansas

I agree, very sad.


27 posted on 06/25/2005 2:47:21 PM PDT by hadaclueonce (shoot low, they are riding Shetlands.....)
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To: AlexW

I failed to say "Prayers for the family"


28 posted on 06/25/2005 2:47:36 PM PDT by AlexW (Reporting from Bratislava)
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To: blackbart.223; SunnySide
"Won't work. They attack at that depth as well"

They are, in fact, most likely to attack in shallow water. The splashing of swimmers is very attractive to them.

29 posted on 06/25/2005 2:48:52 PM PDT by sweetliberty (Never argue with a fool. People might not know the difference.)
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To: zencat
Wonder if the MSM will bring back the "Summer of the Shark"?

Only if they need to bury a lib-uh-rhul foible on page 27G, below the fold.

30 posted on 06/25/2005 2:48:57 PM PDT by null and void (No man's life, liberty, or property are safe as long as court is in session)
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To: hadaclueonce
or even Viro

What's that?

as humans we are not superior.

In water perhaps, yet, on land we build stuff, all they do is eat stuff.

31 posted on 06/25/2005 2:49:00 PM PDT by budwiesest (Hey, anybody know where nopardons is?)
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To: Calico Cat
Being attacked by a shark is probably mankind's most primitive fear. I'm going in up to my ankles, and that's it.

Willfully jumping out of a perfectly good airplane? Check!

Upping the ante with H.A.L.O. jumps? You betcha!

Para-sailing in Santa Barbara? Thought you knew!

Rappel from a chopper? Been there, done that!

Swimming out more than 50 feet from shore in the ocean? Fuhgedaboudit! I'm a strong guy and can swim swiftly, but Mr. Tooth E. Shark is stronger and faster than I am in the water.

A man must know his limitations, you know.


32 posted on 06/25/2005 2:49:25 PM PDT by rdb3 (What you want? Morning sickness or sickness from mourning? --Nick Cannon)
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To: CROSSHIGHWAYMAN

You are very very bad!


33 posted on 06/25/2005 2:49:59 PM PDT by cajungirl (no)
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To: Txsleuth
I was born and raised in Walton County. I too can never recall hearing of a shark attack, although I lived away for many years.

I can remember when we could go to the beaches and not see another person as far as one could see.

34 posted on 06/25/2005 2:50:22 PM PDT by yarddog
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To: Calico Cat
I'm going in up to my ankles, and that's it.

That's hermit crab territory.

Be careful.

35 posted on 06/25/2005 2:50:35 PM PDT by pax_et_bonum (Three guys walked into a bar. The fourth one ducked.)
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To: hadaclueonce

a stingray won't kill you.

And man of wars aren't exactly common, unless you are in Australia.


36 posted on 06/25/2005 2:50:56 PM PDT by rwfromkansas (http://www.xanga.com/home.aspx?user=rwfromkansas)
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To: TwoSue

Hello,

"huh ....Candy Gram...."

Glad to be here, MOgirl


37 posted on 06/25/2005 2:51:24 PM PDT by MOgirl (In memory of Walton Wayne Callahan, I love you forever.)
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To: Tumbleweed_Connection

More info...what a tragedy.

CNN) -- A 14-year-old girl died Saturday in a shark attack while swimming in the Gulf of Mexico, authorities said.

The incident happened about 11:15 a.m. in front of a campground near the Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, near Destin, Florida, according to the South Walton Fire District.

The girl lost a leg in the attack and died afterward, said John Fitch of the fire district.

At the time of the attack, the girl and a friend, also 14, were swimming and using "boogie boards" about 200 to 250 yards offshore, said Lt. Frank Owens of the Walton County Sheriff's office.

The friend saw the attack and her friend being dragged under, he said.

Beaches in southern Walton County were closed after the attack and will remain closed for at least the rest of the day, Owens told CNN.

Observers have not seen the shark since the incident, and it's believed to have left the area, he said.

Authorities do not know what kind of shark it was.

Fitch said the shark was about 11 feet long. Owens said he could not confirm that size, but noted that many species swim in the warm waters off the Florida coast.

Although shark sightings are not uncommon there, no one had seen a shark in the area Saturday before the attack occurred, Owens said.


38 posted on 06/25/2005 2:51:31 PM PDT by Pharmboy (There is no positive correlation between the ability to write, act, sing or dance and being right)
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To: Dog Gone

This time of year, sharks are eating sting rays. Peoples feet look like sting rays. The young sharks hit the feet, start the blood and then you end up with a pack of young biting.


39 posted on 06/25/2005 2:51:41 PM PDT by hadaclueonce (shoot low, they are riding Shetlands.....)
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To: hadaclueonce
"the momement you step in the saltwater you are part of the food chain."

"the moment you step in the saltwater you are part of go further down the food chain.

40 posted on 06/25/2005 2:52:25 PM PDT by sweetliberty (Never argue with a fool. People might not know the difference.)
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