A shark attack is every swimmer and surfer’s worst nightmare and in spite of the fact that shark attacks are incredibly rare, it seems like there is news of one almost every month during the summer.

A woman was recently attacked by a shark while surfing in Florida. The attack took place on May 15 and the shark almost bit the woman’s foot and ankle completely off.

The victim, 38-year-old Amy Tatsch, is recovering from the attack but described the ordeal during a recent interview.

“We caught a couple of waves. He caught one and I drifted down a little farther with the current so I was a little farther away and the next wave that was coming up, I was ready,” she said. “I kicked off with my right leg to give me some momentum to ride in and that’s when I got bumped. It was a really hard bump and then seconds after I felt my leg being torn and then I felt the motion of something big swimming away.”

There were no lifeguards on the beach where the attack occurred, so Tatsch’s family and other beachgoers had to help her get to shore and call for an ambulance.

The doctors who examined the bite believe the shark who attacked Tatsch was a bull shark. Bull sharks are the most common culprits of attacks on humans and although it is likely that the shark confused Tatsch with something else, bull sharks are known to have a mean streak.

On average, there are 16 shark attacks per year in the United States with one fatality every two years. In order to avoid future shark attacks, scientists have started adding tracking devices to great white sharks. They may soon start adding them to other shark species as well.

The tracking devices allow the scientists to know where the tagged sharks are and if they get too close, scientists can warn lifeguards and beachgoers.

Do you think the shark tracking system will help reduce shark attacks?

Image via Wikimedia Commons