Swimmer Injured by Shark at Lifeguard Beach

Hyde County EMS, National Park Service rangers, the Hyde County Sheriff's Department, and members of the Ocracoke Volunteer Fire Department responded to the scene where they found a male, in his late 60s with multiple injuries due to a shark encounter.

The man was swimming outside the first breaker, directly in front of the lifeguard stand when he encountered a grey shark, six to seven feet in length. The shark pulled him under the water and the man sustained several bites to his rib cage, hip, lower leg, and both hands. The man was able to swim himself close to shore where lifeguards helped him out of the water.

EMS stabilized the man's blood pressure and were able to get him in a stable, conscious, and oriented condition prior to medical transport. The man was flown to Vidant Medical Center in Greenville, NC for further medical treatment.

Hyde County EMS will have two ambulances with paramedic level service available with a third on call for the Fourth of July weekend.



Sarah Johnson 
Hyde County Public Information Officer

sarah.johnson@hydecountync.gov