A 14-year-old boy who was bitten by a shark during a lifeguard training session in Florida this week has spoken out about the incident, saying, “I don’t think there’s anything really to be scared of.”
Volusia County Beach Safety officials confirmed to Fox News Digital that the attack involving Dempsey Manhart happened Monday in Ponce Inlet, when Manhart was bitten on his right calf during a junior lifeguard camp.
Witnesses said Manhart was bitten by a 4- to 5-inch long-eared bat, a creature common in the area.
“I jumped in and hit a shark,” he said. Fox 35 Orlando“I hit it with my hand, stood up and it spun around and got under my leg and I think it bit me as it wrapped around my leg.”
Florida Teen Bitten During Lifeguard Training Camp: ‘Shark Capital of the World’
Dempsey Manhart spoke about a shark attack he experienced during lifeguard training this week. (WOFL)
The boy said he didn’t realize at first he had hit a shark.
“When the shark got close to my feet I tried to hit it and it swam away and then I saw the shark,” Manhart said.
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Manhart required 17 stitches and is not yet able to return to normal activities, but said Tuesday he is excited to be able to return to lifeguard training.
Dempsey Manhart was attacked by a shark in Florida and taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. (WOFL)
“Because I think this is a really rare event. If it’s happened once, I don’t think it’s going to happen again, so I don’t think there’s really anything to be afraid of,” Manhart said.
The boy said his father, a deputy sheriff, lifeguard and paramedic, is a huge inspiration to him and that being bitten by a shark shouldn’t stop him from saving lives in the future.
Dempsey Manhart, 14, was bitten by a shark in Volusia County, Florida, on Monday morning. (Jesus Olarte/AFP via Getty Images)
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Manhart is eager to get back in the water, but noted that Volusia County is considered the shark capital of the world. Florida Museum of Natural History International Shark Attack File.
Since 1882, there have been more than 350 shark attacks in Volusia County, including 16 incidents in 2023.
