Christine Drews Sieger
A Navy employee suffered life-threatening injuries after a shark attack near a Florida naval base.
A swim near a U.S. naval base in Florida took a dramatic turn when an employee was attacked by a shark and subsequently hospitalized in critical condition.
The incident occurred Monday morning in the waters near Naval Support Activity Panama City. Rescue crews were dispatched to the area following reports of a person in distress in the water.
Upon arrival, rescuers determined that the incident was not a drowning but a shark attack.
The man was later transported to a local hospital, where he remains under treatment, according to ABC News.
Lunch Break Ends Dramatically
Authorities believe the attack occurred near the base’s marina, where the employee was spending time with a colleague.
The attack took place during the workday while the employee was near the water, according to News Channel 7.
Navy officials told local media that he suffered severe injuries to his arms in the attack.
Warnings Along the Coast
Following the incident, Bay County Emergency Services raised purple warning flags on local beaches. The flags are used to alert the public to the presence of potentially dangerous marine life in the area.
It remains unclear which species of shark was responsible for the attack. Authorities have not yet released further details about the investigation, according to ABC News.
Meanwhile, the injured Navy employee continues to receive treatment as local authorities monitor the situation and maintain coastal safety warnings.
Florida Leads the Nation in Shark Attacks
Florida is known as the U.S. state with the highest number of recorded shark attacks. In 2025, 11 unprovoked shark bites were recorded in the state, accounting for 44 percent of all such incidents in the United States that year, according to the Florida Museum.
However, shark attacks remain relatively rare. In 2025, 65 unprovoked shark attacks were recorded worldwide, a figure close to the average for recent years.
The United States recorded the highest number of incidents, with 25 attacks, while Florida was the state with the greatest number of cases.
Sources: ABC News, News Channel 7, Florida Museum
