Spate of shark attacks off Florida

Half of the world's shark attacks this year occurred off Florida

Three surfers were attacked by sharks in separate incidents within a few miles of each other off the Atlantic coast of the US state of Florida on Sunday.

The attacks came just a day after three similar attacks on a nearby stretch of coast.

Two of them just came at me as fast as they could and hit my surfboard, went under my surfboard, came from behind and pulled me off

Robert Kurrek

All the attacks are being blamed on blacktip and spinner sharks and none were life threatening, Joe Wooden, deputy chief of the Volusia County beach patrol said.

There have been 34 shark attacks worldwide so far this year, with attacks in Florida accounting for about half of them.

Sunday's first attack occurred at about 1130 (1530 GMT) when a 17-year-old female surfer off Wilbur-by-the-Sea, south of Daytona Beach, had her left foot bitten by a shark.

Two attacks within a minute

Her boyfriend, Scott Love, who witnessed the event, said, "she caught a wave, came off her board and started screaming and yelling".

Just two hours later two other surfers were bitten within a minute of each other five miles (8km) away in New Smyrna Beach, near the scene of Saturday's attacks.

Becky Chapman, 17, had surgery after being bitten in the left calf. A 32-year-old man, Robert Kurrek, was bitten in the right foot.

Mr Kurrek said that he had seen about two dozen sharks around him just prior to the attack.

"Two of them just came at me as fast as they could and hit my surfboard, went under my surfboard, came from behind and pulled me off," he said.

Beaches closed

A one-mile stretch of beach was then closed for the rest of the day.

The attacks came just a day after three men were attacked a few miles up the coast at Ponce Inlet, between Daytona and New Smyrna, whilst taking part in a surfing competition.

All six victims were surfers

There are reports that the surfers rode their boards into a migrating school of sharks, which then attacked the intruders.

All three received hospital treatment for their wounds, with one requiring surgery on his hand.

The surfing competition continued on Sunday, but was moved away from where the attacks occurred.

High risk area

Of the 34 shark bites reported worldwide this year, 17 occurred in Volusia County, Mr Wooden said.

Sharks are drawn to the area because it is rich in bait fish, he added.

Sharks have also been on the attack in the Bahamas this month, where two Americans were bitten in the leg.

Both are recovering at a Miami hospital, one after having his leg amputated.