ST. GEORGE'S ISLAND, Florida (4 June 2002) -- Florida officials have warned tourists to steer clear of wildlife feeding and fish-baiting areas after a shark attacked 16-year-old Matt Tichenor in Gulf waters off St. George Island. Chief Jay Abbott of St. George Island Fire and Rescue warned tourists about swimming in areas where people are feeding wildlife or fishing although beaches remained open and unposted. "It's just a freak thing," said Abbot. "It's their territory, not ours." According to reports, the shark attack occurred in an area where locals and tourists were fishing and feeding gulls. Tichenor, a high school junior vacationing on the island with his family, was severely bitten on his left foot while floating on a raft less than 25 meters (80-feet) off-shore. He was rushed to the local airport by paramedics and flown by helicopter to Bay Medical Center in Panama City where he underwent three hours of surgery to repair severed tendons in his foot. | | Television entertainer Erich Ritter fooling around with sharks at Walker's Cay, Bahamas before a shark bit off most of his lower leg. Tichenor was released the same day in good condition and is expected to fully recover. © CDNN - CYBER DIVER NEWS NETWORKSCUBA FORUMDISCUSS THIS TOPIC - Dive in and have your say at Scuba Forum |
