Florida surfer attacked in ‘Shark Bite Capital of the World’
A surfer was attacked by a shark on Sunday at a Florida beach aptly nicknamed the “Shark Bite Capital of the World.”
Matt Bender, a 40-year-old from Winter Park, was bitten on his right forearm while surfing on New Smyrna Beach around 3 p.m., Volusia County Beach Safety Ocean Rescue said.
He was rushed to a nearby hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and is on the mend, his friends said.
“His hand was NOT bitten off — he’s doing good considering, but he was injured and needs our support and prayers right now,” the friends wrote on Facebook.
It’s unclear what kind of shark attacked Bender, but spinner sharks, black tip sharks and deadly bull sharks have been spotted frequenting the popular coastal hotspot.
The beach, an inlet northeast of Orlando, is often crawling with sharks, but surfers are usually unperturbed and seek out the spot for its consistent waves.
In 2024, New Smyrna Beach was named the shark attack capital of the world by the International Shark Attack File, which logged a staggering 361 unprovoked assaults since 1837.
Between 2010 and 2024, the beach also reported 12 surf fatalities.
In June, researchers at Tideschart also concluded that the Florida beach is the most dangerous in the country, not just because of the sharp-toothed predators, but because it sits in the center of a hurricane alley.
Bender’s gnarly attack marks the second shark-related encounter at New Smyrna Beach in the past month as summer kicks into full gear.
Darren Kaye, a surfer who frequents the beach, knew he had to be attentive and check the waters while he was out catching waves. He never anticipated he’d have to check the sky above him until a spinner shark headbutted him.
“I was just really happy its mouth wasn’t open,” he said, noting that he wasn’t going to let the incident deter him from the sea.
In late June, a newlywed couple at the beach had their honeymoon cut short after the man was killed after being struck by a bolt of lightning in broad daylight.
The same strike also indirectly hit two bystanders who were treated at the scene.