A woman was transported to the hospital after being bitten by a shark Sunday afternoon in Vero Beach.
Lifeguards at Humiston Park in Vero Beach responded 150 yards north of the park to Costa d’Este Resort to reports of a shark bite around noon.
Lifeguards say a woman in her 50s was swimming 100 yards off the beach when she was bitten by a shark.
According to the victim, the shark bit then released her. She suffered punctured wounds on her leg. Lifeguards performed first aid until Indian River County Fire Rescue arrived.
This is the second person bitten by a shark in our area in a week after a young woman was bitten May 15 in Boca Raton.
Mary Marcus, 57, was visiting from Palm Coast, swimming in roughly 150 yards near the Coste D'Este Resort, when a shark bit her in the leg.
"Nothing you want to hear," says lifeguard Nathan Reick.
Lifeguard John Amyette says Marcus was very fortunate.
"Her injuries could have been much more extensive. She was very fortunate seeing that animal bit her once and let her go," says Amyette.
She was able to walk out of the ocean on her own. Mary's husband, Ed, said she was stitched up and released from the hospital Sunday.
He said he's thankful for all the help from first responders.
