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A 16-year-old surfer rushed to a man's aid after a shark viciously attacked him in Florida, according to First Coast News.
The incident reportedly happened Saturday afternoon (July 30) at Jacksonville Beach. Nadya Hicks was surfing near 12th Avenue South when she suddenly heard screams about 30 feet away. The teenager swam over to the distressed man, had him grab onto her surfboard, and they both made it back to shore, according to reporters.
Hicks also recounted the shocking experience to First Coast News. She says the man's foot was "dangling" and there was "a lot of blood." The 16-year-old believes a shark attacked the victim.
Jacksonville Beach Ocean Rescue Lifeguards confirmed to the website that they responded to a "traumatic injury" in the area. No word on the man's condition as of Monday (August 1).
Shark attacks have been on the rise across the United States after declining for a few years. Just last month, a young girl lost her leg after a nine-foot-long shark attacked her at another Florida beach. The Taylor County Sheriff's Office, which relayed news of the girl's injury, warned beachgoers about these marine predators:
"Boaters and swimmers are cautioned to be alert, vigilant, and practice shark safety," according to officials. "Some rules to follow are: never swim alone, do not enter the water near fishermen, avoid areas such as sandbars (where sharks like to congregate), do not swim near large schools of fish, and avoid erratic movements while in the water."