Shark bites 15-year-old off California coast; 7-year-old bitten by shark in North Carolina

Updated July 2.

Two youngsters are recovering after being bitten by sharks.  

In California, Eddie Cahill, 15, was bitten June 30. The teen was camping at the Boy Scout’s Emerald Bay Camp on Catalina Island when he, his assistant Scout Master father, and nine other members of the troop set out on their 11 person canoe..

The group were in water near Parson’s Landing when a shark bumped their boat so hard it lifted it out of the water. Cahill’s hand was holding the side of the boat as the shark slid its mouth down the side of the boat tearing into the ligaments in the teens hand, nearly severing his finger.

The group paddled as fast as they could back to shore.

Lifeguards from Los Angeles County Fire Department dispatched a rescue boat to the area around 7:15 a.m. and treated the teen.  

In a press release the Fire Department said because of the remote location, Cahill was taken by air to a hospital where he underwent surgery and doctors saved his finger.  

The Department cleared and closed the ocean 1 mile in each direction of the incident location.. 

“We provide a chase boat, which goes out before every water activity that takes place outside of Emerald Bay to identify potential weather and wildlife hazards and follows each group of participants back to shore. No hazards were spotted this morning,” the Boy Scouts of America said in a statement.  

While the size and species of shark has not been identified, the area is known to be visited by white sharks..  

In 2019 a kayaker had a run in with a white shark off Catalina. 

Jon Chamers and Danny McDaniel were diving off the island Oct. 5 in an area called The Rock. During their surface interval the duo decided to kayak to Ship Rock.  

Around 4:30 p.m. the pair were about 150 yards from The Rock when McDaniel felt something hit his red kayak. At first, he thought it was Jon messing with him, but then he saw a massive great white shark. 

The shark bit the kayak for 4 or 5 seconds before releasing its grip and disappeared into the water, leaving two teeth about 2 ½ inches long in the kayak. 

Despite the encounter, after off gassing the two continued their planned scuba trip later that day.  

7-year-old bitten by shark in North Carolina.  

A vacationing 7-year-old was bitten by a shark off Ocean Isle Beach June 27. The young girl was with her parents in waist-deep water when a shark bit her right calf. 

First responders arrived on scene around 11 a.m. and administered first aid. The girl was then transported by ambulance to Grand Strand for treatment. 

 In 2019 another teen was bitten off the same beach.

Surfer bitten by shark at Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina
Austin Reed was bitten by a shark while surfing off Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina.

Austin Reed, 19, his brothers and several friends were enjoying the waves June 10. when a shark grabbed his foot.

He was able to hobble up the beach and alert lifeguards. He was taken by ambulance to the hospital for treatment.

All locations have been marked on the 2021 Shark Attack Map.  

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