Man bitten by shark in New Smyrna says 'It was freaking crazy'

NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. — A 22-year-old man is recovering after he was bitten by a shark in New Smyrna Beach Thursday.

The jetty at New Smyrna Beach is known to have some of the best waves on the east coast, but it's also known for the large number of people bitten by sharks.

Nolan Tyler of Holly Hill is the sixth person this year to be bitten by a shark at New Smyrna Beach.

Lifeguards bandaged the wound after the black tip shark punctured it.

Tyler said his foot is swollen and he is still in a bit of pain.

"Got a few stitches. It nipped the tendon on my pinky toe, and gosh man, it was freaking crazy," Nolan said.

Nolan has been surfing all his life.  He told Channel 9 that when the shark bit him, he was about 10 feet away from his surfboard and in hip-deep water.

"And as soon as it bit, I kind of like jumped back and the thing spooked out, and it actually ended up thrashing his body and hitting me in the leg and it scurried off," said Nolan said.

According to beach patrol, five of the six bites in New Smyrna occurred at the jetty where Nolan was attacked.

In 2015, there were seven recorded shark bites in New Smyrna Beach.

"Every time you surf, you know they are out there. It's pretty much a matter of where and when you know. Just hit the lottery," Nolan said.

Nolan said he will be staying out of the water for about a month while his injuries heal, but he's not going to let the shark scare him off.

The beach patrol said the jetty is attractive to sharks because of the bait fish that frequent the area, and people often just get in the way.

Cox Media Group