Shark bites man sitting in water at Florida beach

The incident was the second shark attack at New Smyrna Beach over the weekend and the third bite this year in Volusia County.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. A man is recovering after being bitten by a shark while sitting in the water at a Central Florida beach.

The incident was the second shark attack at New Smyrna Beach over the weekend and the third bite this year in Volusia County.

According to a report from FOX 35 in Orlando, Volusia County Beach Safety officials said the 48-year-old Lake Worth man was bitten by the shark near the south jetty shortly after 2 p.m. Saturday, causing minor injuries to his back. The man, however, refused to go to the hospital.

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One day prior, Volusia County Beach Safety said a 21-year-old DeLand man was surfing a little after 3 p.m. when a shark attacked him.

The man suffered serious injuries to his foot and was taken to the hospital by Volusia County Emergency Medical Services.

He was also in the south jetty area when the attack happened.

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What are the odds of being bitten by a shark?

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) said it's "extremely unlikely" for a person to be bitten by a shark in Florida waters. If bitten by a shark, officials said they are typically not life-threatening. 

If swimming on an ocean beach or inland waters, the FWC recommends staying in groups, as sharks are likely to bite a solitary individual, swim in areas tended by lifeguards and avoid being in the water during darkness or twilight hours when sharks are most active.

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Do sharks hunt people?

Sharks would much rather feed on fish and marine mammals, experts said. "Sharks have been known to attack humans when they are confused or curious. If a shark sees a human splashing in the water, it may try to investigate, leading to an accidental attack," the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's website stated.

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