Florida Man Critically Injured in Severe Shark Bite

A Florida man is in critical condition after a shark bit his right arm, causing severe injuries and blood loss. The man was airlifted to a nearby hospital where he is expected to make a full recovery.

A Florida man is recovering after a "severe" shark bite to his right arm put him in critical condition Friday, according to police.

Florida Man Critically Injured in Severe Shark Bite

The Nassau County Sheriff's Office posted to Facebook sharing the details of the attack and aftermath, sharing "at 11:15 a.m. today, the Nassau County Sheriff's Office Marine Unit responded to a distress call reporting a shark bite."

According to the Nassau County Sheriff's Office, "a man aboard his vessel had suffered a severe bite to his right arm."

Florida Man Critically Injured in Severe Shark Bite

A Nassau County Sheriff's Office Marine Unit responded to a distress call from a man with a "severe" shark bite. (Nassau County Sheriff's Office via Facebook)

Sheriff Bill Leeper added, "He had lost a lot of blood. He was bleeding pretty bad."

Florida Man Critically Injured in Severe Shark Bite

The Sheriff continued, "Acting swiftly, a deputy boarded the vessel and applied a tourniquet to stop the bleeding."

Two Nassau County Sheriff's Office Marine Unit deputies created a tourniquet for a Florida man who was bitten by a shark on his vessel. (Nassau County Sheriff's Office via Facebook)

Florida Man Critically Injured in Severe Shark Bite

Once the shark bite victim was stabilized, a deputy "then piloted the boat to the Dee Dee Bartels boat ramp, where Fernandina Beach Fire Rescue was waiting."

Lights and sirens flashed on a Nassau County Sheriff's Office Marine Unit as deputies responded to reports of a shark bite on a nearby vessel. (Nassau County Sheriff's Office via Facebook)

After being airlifted to UF hospital nearby, the victim "is alert and at a local hospital recovering." according to the Nassau County Sheriff's Office.

Fox News Digital is awaiting Nassau County Sheriff's Office's release of an official incident report.

The attack occurred approximately 11 miles off the coast of Nassau County, Florida. The victim, who has not been identified, was fishing with a friend when the shark attacked.

The victim's friend called 911, and the Nassau County Sheriff's Office Marine Unit responded to the scene. The victim was transported to UF Health Jacksonville hospital, where he is currently in critical condition.

Shark bites are relatively rare in Florida, but they do occur. In 2020, there were 28 shark bites reported in Florida, according to the Florida Museum of Natural History. Of those bites, 21 were unprovoked.

The Florida Museum of Natural History recommends swimming in designated areas with a lifeguard present, avoiding swimming at dawn or dusk when sharks are most active, and not swimming in areas where there is bait fish.