Hilton Head Island has a calming, laid-back, and inviting atmosphere that makes it the ideal holiday destination. It is home to one of the top 10 family beaches in the United States, a variety of top-notch golf courses, abundant natural beauty, and a mentality you won’t find anywhere else.
But the residents of these islands might differ, owing to the other side of the place that they’ve seen over the last couple of years. Shark attacks have been prevalent in the US, mostly in the Florida region, for decades, but Hilton Head is gaining popularity for more such notorious incidents.
Hilton Head Shark Attacks Explained
The limelight on Hilton Head Islands and the Shark attacks prevalent in this area were highlighted in recent days as the number of Shark attacks in the place started seeing an all-time high, with more such cases being reported. One such was seen last Friday when a Shark bit a man at the beach in Sea Pines; the swimmer was reportedly bitten on a foot around 3:20 p.m. while waist-deep.
Although he was given medical treatment promptly, no more information about the sixty-year-olds current state of health and updates on his injury has been laid out by the officials. The beach was immediately closed after this incident for the following few hours, but this isn’t a new thing for Hilton Head, as the area has reported several other cases of Shark bite incidents over the years.
Hilton Head Islands, in South Carolina, are notoriously known for their prevalence of Sharks of bigger species, which are more present in these otherwise calm-looking rivers because of the availability of food here. It is common for these large species to Inhabitat the Beaufort County waters, depending on varying factors, like seasonal changes, which have an effect on their population and prevalence.
It is widely known that giant species like Sharks are often found in the deep ocean, but it’s not a rare phenomenon to witness some of them close to the shore; the reason? Again- for feeding themselves. Around 20-30 different types of species, including the great white sharks, bull sharks, hammerheads, and tiger sharks, are seen in these islands, but also some of these can be spotted in shallow waters, as they are often seen feeding in nearby coastal waters.
Hilton Head Islands, on the other hand, has experienced an increase in these Sharks, mostly during the summer months, but the local authorities have confirmed that these giants can only be found in deeper oceans, typically where most people don’t even reach, which makes the place safe most of the times.
Swimmers are not bound to reach that deep ocean, but sometimes smaller less-lengthy Sharks are found at the surface.
Hilton Head Shark Attacks Over the Years
Last year, a 26-year-old man was reported to have been attacked by a black-tip Shark, whereas a 10-year-old boy was also attacked in the year 2018 in a similar incident.
This raises concern over the safety of individuals on the beaches of this island, as the authorities were forced to take a decisive step to tackle this.
Attacks frequently take place in murky water, particularly when people swim in fish-rich or very populated regions. Larger sharks, which pursue food like bony fish and seals, frequently attack people on shallow, offshore sandbars.
The third shark attack to happen in South Carolina in 2022 took place on July 12 in the Hilton Head neighborhood of Palmetto Dunes. The victim was a woman in her late 60s. A shark (of unknown species) reportedly attacked the woman’s hand as she was wading in thigh-deep water in the middle of the afternoon.
The patient had 24 stitches at a neighboring urgent care facility where she was treated.
These persistent attacks only prove to say that swimmers need to be more cautious while exploring the beaches. As these beaches are not only places of exploration but also home to several other species.
Make sure you stay updated with Averagebeing for more information on such latest incidents!