Shark Bite #2 For New Smyrna!

A 55-year-old New Smyrna Beach man became Volusia County’s second shark bite victim of 2010 over the weekend.

Deputy Chief Mike Hensler said the surfer, identified as Jimmy Johnston, told Beach Patrol officers he was sitting on his surfboard with his feet out of the water Saturday near the Ponce de Leon Inlet’s south jetty.

He said he saw a baitfish jump into the air nearby. It was followed by a small spinner shark, Hensler said.

“The guy said the shark missed the fish, but grabbed his foot,” Hensler said.

In alarm, Johnston pulled his right foot from the shark’s mouth, causing most of the injury, which consisted of two cuts to the top and seven to the bottom of his foot.

Johnston becomes Volusia’s second bite victim of the year. The first was in May when a 10-year-old from Orlando suffered a minor bite while playing in shallow water near 20th Avenue, also in New Smyrna Beach.

[source]