Chucky Luciano was one of three people attacked by sharks in New Smyrna Beach on Sunday. He suffered lacerations to both hands, but his injuries were not life threatening. Photo: Facebook/Chucky Luciano
Lightning doesn’t strike the same place twice, or so says the popular dictum. But apparently sharks don’t necessarily abide by that logic.
Over the course of a two-hour period this Sunday in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, three surfers were attacked by sharks, all in separate incidents.
The first occurred at 10:45 AM, local time when a 43-year-old surfer was bitten on his leg out in the lineup, according to reports. Just 15 minutes later, at 11 AM, a 36-year-old man named Chucky Luciano was bitten on both hands while surfing in the same area. Both men were taken to the hospital, Luciano needing to undergo surgery. But both men’s injuries were said to be non-life threatening.
And then, around 1 PM, a 16-year-old boy was bitten on his inner thigh. The boy’s injury was minor, and he was not taken to the hospital.
Local residents of New Smyrna Beach are not surprised. A 2007 press release published by the University of Florida went so far as to give Volusia County (of which New Smyrna Beach is a part) the, “dubious distinction as the world’s shark bite capital.”
“You’re going to see them,”Doug Watson, a surfer from Sanford told local news. “It’s part of it. You just respect them.” For now, details about the type of shark and how large it was are elusive.
Luciano later took to social media to explain the incident, and express his gratitude that his injuries were minor. “Many people are not so lucky,” he said.
