40-Year-Old Florida Surfer Catches Air, Lands On Shark, Gets Bit

In an unfortunate turn of events, a Florida surfer hit the water after a wave, ended up on a shark, and got bitten.

Don Walsh was surfing in New Smyrna Beach on the mid-Atlantic coast of the panhandle state when he caught air on a wave only for him to land on a 6.5-foot shark.

The shark did not take too kindly on this accidental assault and bit him on the calf and hand.

Walsh, who is also a chiropractor, told media outlets he had been surfing at the New Smyrna Beach for several hours that Tuesday before he decided to try going airborne and calling it a day.

Ocean Rescue Captain, Tamra Malphurs claimed that is when Walsh landed on the animal in waist-deep water and got lacerations though they are not considered life-changing.

He was treated at the scene.

Walsh told news media he does not usually try to catch air so this was the first time. He described the experience as the feeling of being hit by a freight train, and it was all he could do to push the shark away. He grabbed the paddle and tried to get out of there as fast as possible.

Walsh did admit he is not the most skilled surfer out there, though he has been a casual surfer for the last 30 years.

This is not the first incident of a shark bite at Smyrna beach this past month, let alone year. Maggie Crum, a nine-year-old girl, was playing in waist-deep water when a small one footer bit her.

The injuries were not very serious, but it is part of a trend that shows the nature of New Smyrna Beach.

There are collectibles for sale on the beach with the illustration it is shark bite capital of the world. The award was bestowed by the International Shark Attack File, and there have so far been 11 incidents this year.

Sources claim anyone who has ever swum in the waters of New Smyrna has probably been within 10 feet of a shark.

This is probably true considering Don Walsh did not even see the shark until it bit him.

The 40-year-old stated he was not aware of the shark below him as he landed in the water. The bites are what made it clear he had landed on something, and it was not pleased. Walsh also stated the incident had not fazed him at all and he will soon be back as soon as the wounds heal.