LAKE WORTH BEACH, Fla. — A fisherman was taken to a hospital Thursday morning after he was bitten by a shark off Lake Worth Beach.
Palm Beach County Fire Rescue was called to the area near Lake Worth Beach Park, located at 10 S. Ocean Blvd.
Officials said a man in his 50s was fishing when a shark bit him on the knee. He was taken to St. Mary's Medical Center in West Palm Beach.
NOW: Shark bite confirmed near Lake Worth Beach Park
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According to Palm Beach Co EMS, a man in his 50s was fishing when he was bit on his knee
They say the injuries were non-life threatening and the leg will likely not need to be amputated
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The man's injuries were not life-threatening and his leg likely won't have to be amputated.
It's unclear what type of shark bit the man.
Red flags were flying at beaches across Palm Beach County on Thursday, as the winds are gusty and the surf was rough and churned up.
There were also purple flags in many spots, warning beachgoers of potentially dangerous marine life.
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"It's usually a very rare occurrence when something like this happens," Robbie Roemer, a shark researcher with Project Dorsal, told WPTV. "I would never say it's not surprising."
He said there's a few takeaways for beachgoers who may be alarmed.
"The reality is, if that body of water is connected to the ocean, there is a chance that a shark could be there," Roemer said. "So we mitigate those risks — not getting in the water if you see a lot of bait fish, a common prey source of these sharks, or if someone is fishing, don't swim in the nearby periphery of that person fishing."