List of fatal, unprovoked shark attacks in the United States by decade

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List of fatal, unprovoked shark attacks in the United States by decade

This is a list of fatal, unprovoked shark attacks that occurred in United States territorial waters by decade in reverse chronological order. Fatal shark attack

Shark attack

A shark attack is an attack on a human by a shark. Every year, a number of people are attacked by sharks, although death is quite unusual. Despite the relative rarity of shark attacks, the fear of sharks is a common phenomenon, having been fueled by the occasional instances of attacks, such as the Jersey Shore shark attacks of 1916, and by s...
s that resulted from provocation (e.g. shooting the shark with a speargun) are not included; neither are attacks that occurred outside U.S. territorial waters (e.g. the shark attacks which occurred after the sinking of the USS Indianapolis

USS Indianapolis (CA-35)

USS Indianapolis was a of the United States Navy. She holds a place in history due to the notorious circumstances of her sinking, which was the worst single loss of life at-sea in the history of the U.S....
in WWII would not be included here).

In the below list of fatal shark attacks, the bull shark

Bull shark

The bull shark, Carcharhinus leucas, also known as the bull whaler, Zambezi shark or unofficially known as Zambi in Africa and Nicaragua shark in Nicaragua, is a shark common worldwide in warm, shallow waters along coasts and in rivers....
, tiger shark

Tiger shark

The Tiger Shark, Galeocerdo cuvier, the second largest predatory shark is the only member of the genus Galeocerdo. Mature sharks average 3.25 to 4.25 metre long and weigh 385 to 909 kilogram ....
and the Great white shark

Great white shark

The great white shark, Carcharodon carcharias, also known as white pointer, white shark, or white death, is an exceptionally large lamniformes shark found in coastal surface waters in all major oceans....
take up the overwhelming majority of the attacks.

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Encyclopedia

This is a list of fatal, unprovoked shark attacks that occurred in United States territorial waters by decade in reverse chronological order. Fatal shark attack

Shark attack

USS Indianapolis (CA-35)

Bull shark

Tiger shark

Great white shark

Sharks

*Sharks, a group belonging to the cartilaginous fish*Sharks , a British rock band from the 1970s...
all target large prey and travel to shallow water

Shallow water

Shallow water may refer to:* Shallow water blackout* Waves and shallow water** Shallow water equations** Boussinesq equations * Shallow Water, Kansas...
and in the case of the former, freshwater

Freshwater

Freshwater is a word that refers to bodies of water such as ponds, lakes, rivers and streams containing low concentrations of dissolved salts and other total dissolved solids....
. The latter also grows to very large sizes, making defending oneself more difficult.

2000s

Name, age	Date	Species	Location; Comments
Dave Martin, 66	April 25, 2008	Great white shark Great white shark The great white shark, Carcharodon carcharias, also known as white pointer, white shark, or white death, is an exceptionally large lamniformes shark found in coastal surface waters in all major oceans....	Killed at approximately 7:20 am while swimming with a group of nine triathletes off a beach in Solana Beach, California Solana Beach, California Solana Beach is a city in San Diego County, California, California, United States. The population was 12,979 at the 2000 census.Geography... . The victim was bitten across both thighs.
Jamie Marie Daigle, 14	June 25, 2005	Bull shark Bull shark The bull shark, Carcharhinus leucas, also known as the bull whaler, Zambezi shark or unofficially known as Zambi in Africa and Nicaragua shark in Nicaragua, is a shark common worldwide in warm, shallow waters along coasts and in rivers....	Walton County, Florida Walton County, Florida Walton County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 40,601. The United States Census Bureau 2005 estimate for the county is 50,324 .... eight miles (13 km) east of Destin, Florida Destin, Florida Destin is a city located on the Emerald Coast of Florida, in Okaloosa County, Florida. The city styles itself "The World's Luckiest Fishing Village", and claims to have the largest fishing vessel fleet in the state of Florida.... . Witnesses estimated the shark was 6-8 feet in length.
Randy Fry, 50	August 15, 2004	Great white shark	Mendocino, California Mendocino, California Mendocino is a census-designated place in Mendocino County, California, California, United States. The population was 824 at the 2000 census.... near Kibesillah Rock. His headless body was recovered the next day; his head washed ashore north on Sept. 3. The bite radius was 18"; this allowed experts to extrapolate that the shark was 16-18 feet long.
Willis R. McInnis, 57	April 7, 2004	Tiger shark Tiger shark The Tiger Shark, Galeocerdo cuvier, the second largest predatory shark is the only member of the genus *Galeocerdo*. Mature sharks average 3.25 to 4.25 metre long and weigh 385 to 909 kilogram ....	Attacked while surfing off Pohaku Park, Maui, Hawaii. He died a short time after the attack as a result of blood loss from severe wounds to his right thigh and calf.
Courtney Marcher, 22	April 4, 2004	Unconfirmed, probably a tiger shark	Disappeared while surfing at Velzyland, North shore of Oahu, Hawaii. Her surfboard washed ashore; marks on the leash suggested shark involvement.
Deborah Franzman, 50	August 19, 2003	Great white shark	Avila Beach, California Avila Beach, California Avila Beach is an unincorporated area in San Luis Obispo County, California, California, United States with a population of 797, located about 160 miles northwest of Los Angeles.... in about of water. She was clad in a wetsuit and fins; sea lions were present. The shark was estimated to be 15-18 feet long.
Eric Reichardt, 42	September 16, 2001	Unconfirmed, probably a bull or tiger shark	This death was officially classified as a drowning by the Broward County, Florida Broward County, Florida Broward County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population is 1,623,018; this makes it the second most populated county in the state.... medical examiners office; however, it is listed as a fatal shark attack by the International Shark Attack File International Shark Attack File The International Shark Attack File is a global database of Shark#Shark attackss. It began as an attempt to catalogue shark attacks on servicemen during World War II.... . Drowned while diving on the wreck of the Ronald B. Johnson in of water off Pompano Beach, Florida Pompano Beach, Florida Pompano Beach is a city in Broward County, Florida, Florida, along the coast of the Atlantic Ocean just to the north of Fort Lauderdale, Florida.... fighting off a shark. His regulator may have fallen out of his mouth causing him to drown.
Sergei Zaloukaev, 28	September 3, 2001	Unconfirmed, experts are divided whether it was a bull or tiger shark	Killed while swimming with his girlfriend in the surf off Avon Avon, North Carolina Avon is a place in Kinekeet Township, Dare County, North Carolina in the U.S. state of North Carolina in the United States. It is located at latitude 35?21'7" North, longitude 75?30'39" West, which is south of Salvo, North Carolina and north of Buxton, North Carolina on Hatteras Island.... , Hatteras Island Hatteras Island Hatteras Island is a barrier island in the Atlantic Ocean that runs parallel to the coast of North Carolina, forming a bend at Cape Hatteras. It is part of North Carolina's Outer Banks and includes the towns of Rodanthe, North Carolina, Waves, North Carolina, Salvo, North Carolina, Avon, North Carolina, Buxton, North Carolina, Frisco, North... , Dare County, North Carolina Dare County, North Carolina Dare County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of 2000, the population was 29,967. Its county seat is Manteo, North Carolina.... ; his girlfriend, Natalia Slobodskaya, was severely injured in the attack but survived.
David Peltier, 10	September 1, 2001	Unconfirmed, probably a bull shark	Killed while surfing with his father and brothers at Sandbridge Beach, south of Virginia Beach Virginia Beach, Virginia Virginia Beach is an independent city located in the South Hampton Roads Hampton Roads area of Virginia, on the Atlantic Ocean at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay.... , Virginia Virginia The Commonwealth of Virginia is an United States U.S. state on the East Coast of the United States of the Southern United States. The state is known as the "Old Dominion" and sometimes as "Mother of Presidents", because it is the birthplace of Lists of United States Presidents by place of birth#By state.... .
Thadeus Kubinski, 69	August 30, 2000	Bull shark	Killed while swimming in Pinellas County, Florida Pinellas County, Florida Pinellas County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. Its county seat is Clearwater, Florida, and its largest city is St. Petersburg, Florida.... . Witnesses said Kubinski had jumped into the water from the dock behind his home for his daily swim and was splashing vigorously. The shark raced toward him with its dorsal fin out of the water. He died from massive blood loss and organ damage before rescuers could get to him. The shark was estimated to be long and weigh 400 pounds.

1990s

Name, age	date	Species	Location, Comments
Nahid Davoodabai, 29	March 18, 1999	Unconfirmed, probably a tiger shark	Her husband reported that a shark bit off her arm while she was swimming - towing a kayak - in channel waters off Maui Maui The island of Maui is the second-largest of the Hawaiian Islands at 727.2 square miles and is the List of islands of the United States by area.... 's west side. Some investigators have said that they are not sure that they completely believe his version of events. Her body was never recovered.
James Willie Tellasmon, 9	November 21, 1998	Tiger shark	Killed while swimming off Ocean Beach, Jaycee Park, Indian River County, Florida Indian River County, Florida Indian River County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 112,947. The United States Census Bureau 2005 estimate for the county is 128,594 .... . His torso and legs washed up on the beach the next day. His arms and head were never recovered. The nature of the wounds allowed experts to conclusively establish that the shark was a tiger shark, about six feet in length.
William Covert, 25	September 13, 1995	Bull shark	Scuba Diver presumed killed by a 10-12 foot Bull shark near Alligator Alligator An Alligator is a crocodilian in the genus *Alligator* of the family Alligatoridae. The name alligator is an anglicization form of the Spanish language el lagarto , the name by which early Spain explorers and settlers in Florida called the alligator.... Reef off Islamorada, Monroe County, Florida Monroe County, Florida Monroe County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 79,589. The United States Census Bureau 2006 estimate for the county was 74,737.... . His body was not recovered.
James Robinson, 42	December 9, 1994	Great white shark	Killed while diving for sea urchins off Harris Point, San Miguel Island, California. The shark was estimated to be 16-18 feet long.
Michelle von Emster, 25	April 16, 1994	Great white shark	Killed while swimming off Pt. Loma, California. The San Diego County San Diego County, California San Diego County is a county located near the Pacific Ocean in the far southwest of the U.S. state of California. The state of California estimates San Diego County's population as of 2008 to be 3,146,274 people, making it the second most populous county in California, ahead of its northwestern neighbor Orange County, California.... medical examiners office ruled that she was killed in a shark attack; however, some in the law enforcement community have questioned this conclusion and feel that she may have been murdered and dumped in the Pacific Ocean Pacific Ocean The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. Its name is derived from the Latin name Mare Pacificum, "peaceful sea", bestowed upon it by the Portugal explorer Ferdinand Magellan.... . Her leg was bitten off by a great white shark.
Jim Broach	January 31, 1994	Tiger shark	Killed while surfing at Velzyland on the north shore of Oahu, Hawaii.
Daniel McMoyler	December 1993	Tiger shark
Aaron Romento, 18	November 5, 1992	Tiger shark	Attacked and killed while body boarding off Ke'eau Beach Park, Oahu, Hawaii.
Bryan Adona, 29	February 19, 1992	Tiger shark	Presumed killed by a tiger shark when he did not return from bodyboarding, west of Waimea Bay, Oahu, Hawaii. There were no witnesses to the attack; however, his body board was found the following morning with a crescent-shaped piece missing that experts said was made by a large tiger shark.
Martha Joy Morrell, 41	November 26, 1991	Tiger shark
Suk Kyu (Steve) Park	November 19, 1991	Tiger shark	Fishing from rocks, swept out to sea and treading water when attacked at Maliko Point, Maui, Hawaii. His body was not recovered. Shorts found indicate shark bite on left side.
Roy Tanaka	February 17, 1990	Tiger shark	Killed while scuba diving and spearfishing off Makapu'u Beach, Oahu, Hawaii.

1980s

Name, age	date	Species	Location, Comments
Ray Mehl Jr.	October 14, 1989	Tiger shark	Killed while scuba diving off Kahi Point, Hawaii.
Tamara McAllister, 24	January 26, 1989	Great white shark	Killed while kayaking off the coast of Malibu, California Malibu, California Malibu is an incorporated city in western Los Angeles County, California, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city population is 12,575.... with her boyfriend, Roy Jeffrey Stoddard. McAllister's body was found floating face down two days later with large sections from her legs and buttocks missing; no trace of Stoddard has ever been found.
John P. Martin, 38	September 13, 1988	Bull shark	Killed while snorkeling around Shell Island near Panama City, Florida Panama City, Florida The City of Panama City is a city located along U.S. Highway 98 in Bay County, Florida. It is the largest city between Pensacola, Florida and Tallahassee, Florida.... . A long bull shark caused fatal thigh and hand wounds.
Daniel Kennedy	April 15, 1987	Tiger shark	Presumed killed by a shark. His body was never recovered but his shark bitten swim trunks were found on the sea floor near Kona, Hawaii
Male diver, 67	August 1985	Unconfirmed	Presumed killed by a shark in the Gulf of Mexico Gulf of Mexico The Gulf of Mexico is the ninth largest body of water in the world. Considered a smaller part of the Atlantic Ocean, it is an oceanic basin largely surrounded by the North American continent and the island of Cuba.... off Florida. Body not recovered. Some of his equipment - regulator, a fin, bathing suit were recovered showing teethmarks.
Omar Conger, 28	September 15, 1984	Great white shark	San Mateo County, California San Mateo County, California San Mateo County is a county located in the San Francisco Bay Area of the U.S. state of California. It covers most of the San Francisco Peninsula just south of San Francisco, California, and north of Santa Clara County, California.... .
Lewis Boren, 24	December 19, 1981	Great white shark	Monterey, California Monterey, California The City of Monterey in Monterey County is located on Monterey Bay along the Pacific Ocean coast in Central California. As of 2005, the city population was 30,641.... , a large great white shark (18-20 ft) bit through Boren and his board and killed him.
Mark Meeker, 26	September 15, 1981	Unconfirmed, probably a bull shark	Killed while swimming between Anna Maria Island and Egmont Key in Tampa Bay Tampa Bay This article is about the body of water. For the demographic region, see Tampa Bay Area. For the city, see Tampa, FloridaTampa Bay is a large natural harbor and estuary along the Gulf of Mexico on the west central coast of Florida, comprising Old Tampa Bay, Hillsborough Bay, McKay Bay, and New Tampa Bay.... , Manatee County, Florida Manatee County, Florida Manatee County is a county in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 264,002. The United States Census Bureau 2007 estimate for the county was 315,108 .... . Meeker was found dead the next day. He had taken off his bathing suit to use the drawstring as a makeshift tourniquet on his right calf.
Christy Wapniarski, 19	August 10, 1981	Unconfirmed, probably a bull or tiger shark	A catamaran she was riding on had capsized the night before off Daytona Beach, Volusia County, Florida Volusia County, Florida Volusia County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. The United States Census Bureau 2005 estimate for the county was 496,575 . Although Daytona Beach, Florida is Volusia County's best-known city, its county seat is DeLand, Florida, and its most populous city is currently Deltona, Florida.... . Killed by a shark while attempting to swim to shore at daybreak.
Roger Garletts	May 21, 1981	Unconfirmed, probably a tiger shark	Disappeared while scuba diving and spearfishing at Haena Beach Park, Kauai, Hawaii. His dive gear and shredded wetsuit were recovered suggesting a fatal shark attack.

1970s

Name, age	date	Species	Location, Comments
elderly male	1979	Unconfirmed,probably a tiger shark	Disappeared while fishing from shore at South Kohala, Oahu, Hawaii. Divers recovered his hand.
Danson Nakaima	1976	Unconfirmed	Presumed killed while scuba diving off Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii. 3 large sharks were seen near his partial remains.
Stephen C. Powell	July 16, 1976	Unconfirmed, probably a tiger shark	Killed by a shark while scuba diving off Koloa, Kauai, Hawaii. The lower portion of his body was recovered.
Billy Horne, 10	July 2, 1974	oceanic white tip	While adrift after the yacht he was in caught on fire and sank, he was killed by a shark in the Gulf of Mexico Gulf of Mexico The Gulf of Mexico is the ninth largest body of water in the world. Considered a smaller part of the Atlantic Ocean, it is an oceanic basin largely surrounded by the North American continent and the island of Cuba.... off Florida.
Rodney Temple	October 14, 1972	Oceanic whitetips Oceanic whitetip shark The oceanic whitetip shark, Carcharhinus longimanus, is a large pelagic zone shark of tropical and warm temperate seas. It is a stocky shark, most notable for its long, white-tipped, rounded Fish anatomy#Fins.... (x2)	Killed while scuba diving at Cane Bay, St. Croix, USVI. His body was never recovered.

1960s

Name, age	date	Species	Location, Comments
Lt.(jg) John Gibson, 25	April 20, 1963	Galapagos shark Galapagos shark The Galapagos shark, Carcharhinus galapagensis, is a species of requiem shark that was first named in 1905 after specimens were found in the seas around the Galapagos Islands....
Hans Fix, 40	August 19, 1962	bull shark	Killed while surf fishing in waist deep water at Andy Bowie Park, Padre Island, near Port Isabel, Texas Port Isabel, Texas Port Isabel is a city in Cameron County, Texas, Texas, United States. It is part of the Brownsville, Texas–Harlingen, Texas Brownsville-Harlingen metropolitan area.... .
Jacob Horn, 45	October 1961	Unconfirmed, probably a bull or tiger shark	Presumed killed by a shark; his mutilated body washed ashore near Boca Raton Boca Raton, Florida Boca Raton is a city in Palm Beach County, Florida, Florida incorporated in May 1925. As of the United States Census 2000, the city had a total population of 74,764; the 2006 population recorded by the U.S.... , Palm Beach County, Florida Palm Beach County, Florida Palm Beach County has the largest land area located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2007, the county had an estimated population of 1,351,236 , making it the third most populous in the state of Florida and the twenty ninth most populous in the United States.... .
William J. Dandridge, 23	June 24, 1961	Unconfirmed, probably a bull or tiger shark	Key Biscayne Key Biscayne Key Biscayne is an island located in Miami-Dade County, Florida, Florida, United States, between the Atlantic Ocean and Biscayne Bay. It is the southernmost of the Bar along the Atlantic Ocean coast of Florida, and lies south of Miami Beach, Florida and southeast of Miami, Florida.... , Dade County, Florida. The left side of his torso including the left arm was bitten off.
Harold Riley	December 27, 1960	Tiger shark	Swept out to sea while net fishing at Maile Point, Oahu, Hawaii. A shark was seen attacking Riley. His body was recovered off Nanakuli.
Young Marine Recruit	August 1960	Unconfirmed	Killed while swimming from camp off Parris Island, South Carolina Parris Island, South Carolina Parris Island is a former census-designated place in Beaufort County, South Carolina, South Carolina, United States. The population was 4,841 at the United States Census, 2000.... .

1950s

Name, age	date	Species	Location, Comments
Lt. James Neal, 26	August 15, 1959	Unconfirmed	Presumed killed while spearfishing with scuba gear near Panama City, Florida Panama City, Florida The City of Panama City is a city located along U.S. Highway 98 in Bay County, Florida. It is the largest city between Pensacola, Florida and Tallahassee, Florida.... . Dive gear and clothes were found with teeth marks. He is presumed to have been taken by a shark while alive.
Robert Pamperin, 33	June 14, 1959	Great white shark	Killed while freediving for abalone in La Jolla Cove La Jolla Cove The beach at La Jolla Cove is located at , in La Jolla, California. It is a very small beach within walking distance from the Children's Pool Beach, and it is considered one of the most beautiful beaches in Southern California.... La Jolla, California, by what is estimated to be a plus length Great White. His body was not recovered, and witnesses described him being swallowed whole, feet-first.
Albert Kogler, Jr., 18	May 7, 1959	Great white shark	San Francisco, California San Francisco, California The City and County of San Francisco is the fourth most populous city in California and the List of United States cities by population in the United States, with a 2007 estimated population of 799,183.... .
William Weaver, 15	December 13, 1958	Tiger shark	Killed while surfing on an air mattress near Twin Islands off Lanikai, Oahu, Hawaii. His leg was severed.
Angel Escartin, 35	July 10, 1958	Unconfirmed	Autopsy report concluded that he was bitten by a shark off Key West Key West Key West is an island in the Straits of Florida on the North American continent at the southernmost tip of the Florida Keys.Key West is politically within the limits of the city of Key West, Florida, Monroe County, Florida, Florida, United States.... , Monroe County, Florida Monroe County, Florida Monroe County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 79,589. The United States Census Bureau 2006 estimate for the county was 74,737.... while still alive.
Rupert Wade, 57	July 15, 1957	Great white shark	Killed while swimming in the surf at Atlantic Beach, Salter Path Salter Path, North Carolina Salter Path is an unincorporated area in Carteret County, North Carolina, North Carolina, United States. A Crystal Coast community, it lies on Bogue Banks between the towns of Emerald Isle, North Carolina and Indian Beach, North Carolina.... , Carteret County, North Carolina Carteret County, North Carolina Carteret County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of 2000, the population was 59,383. Its county seat is Beaufort, North Carolina.... .
Peter Savino, 25	April 28, 1957	Great white shark	San Luis Obispo, California San Luis Obispo, California San Luis Obispo is a city in California, located roughly midway between San Francisco and Los Angeles on the Central Coast, California. The city, referred to locally as "SLO" or "San Luis", is the county seat of San Luis Obispo County and is adjacent to California Polytechnic State University .... . Witnesses saw his arm sticking out of the shark's mouth. His body was not recovered.
Sailor from tuna vessel	August 30, 1955	Blue shark Blue shark The blue shark, Prionace glauca, is a carcharhinid shark which is found in the deep waters of the world's temperate and tropical oceans. They prefer cooler waters and are not found, for example, in the Yellow Sea or in the Red Sea....	Killed while swimming in Pago Pago Bay near tuna cannery, Tutila Island, American Samoa.
Kosuo Mizokawa, 27	January 6, 1955	Unconfirmed, probably a tiger shark	Dove overboard and was swimming near the stern of a trawler near tuna cannery in Pago Pago harbor, Tutila Island, American Samoa.
Harold Souza, 15	July 26, 1953	Tiger shark	Killed while spearfishing off Maile Beach, Oahu, Hawaii.
Leonard Gant	April 15, 1953	Tiger shark	Killed by a shark off McGregor Point, Maui, Hawaii swimming after canoe he was in became swamped.
Gordon S. Chun	April 8, 1953	Unconfirmed, probably a tiger shark	Swept into the sea while fishing from shore. Body recovered was mutilated by sharks. May have drowned near Wailupe, Oahu, Hawaii.
Barry Wilson, 17	December 7, 1952	Great white shark	Monterey, California Monterey, California The City of Monterey in Monterey County is located on Monterey Bay along the Pacific Ocean coast in Central California. As of 2005, the city population was 30,641.... .
Gerbacio Solano, 40	December 3, 1952	Tiger shark	Killed while swimming from fishing boat setting nets at Maile Beach, Oahu, Hawaii.
Shigeichi Kawamura	August 3, 1952	Tiger shark	Disappeared while swimming between the Ala Moana channel and Kewalo Basin, Oahu, Hawaii. A shark bite was found on the right side of his body.
Male Pan Am pilot	1952	Unconfirmed	Killed while swimming near Key West, Florida Key West, Florida Key West is a city in Monroe County, Florida, United States.The city encompasses Key West, the namesake island, the part of Stock Island, Florida north of U.S.... . He was bitten in the groin area.
Alejandro Nodura	June 25, 1951	Tiger shark	Swept out to sea while fishing at Kapehu Beach, Hawaii. Victim was last seen in the shark's mouth.
Gilbert S. Hotta	January 16, 1950	Tiger shark	Swept into the sea while fishing by a large wave near Kahakuloa, Maui, Hawaii. Three large tiger sharks were seen in the area the day of the accident. His torso was recovered from a "huge tiger shark" caught there three days later.

1940s

Name, age	date	Species	Location, Comments
Ralph Reginald Rives Jr, 20	August 4, 1947	Unconfirmed, probably a bull shark	Jacksonville Jacksonville, Florida Jacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida and the county seat of Duval County, Florida. Since 1968, as a result of the Consolidated city-county of the city and county government , Jacksonville has been the List of United States cities by area city in land area in the continental United States.... papers initially and erroneously reported this as a barracuda Barracuda The barracuda is a ray-finned fish known for its large size and fearsome appearance. Its body is long, fairly compressed, and covered with small, smooth scale .... attack. He died in the hospital after attempts to save him were unsuccessful.
John Kuntsler	May 8, 1945	Unconfirmed	Killed while swimming in Ocracoke Inlet, North Carolina.

1930s

Name, age	date	Species	Location, comments
Joseph Troy Jr, 16	July 25, 1936	Great white shark	Attacked while swimming at Hollywood Beach, Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts Buzzards Bay is a census-designated place in the town of Bourne, Massachusetts in Barnstable County, Massachusetts. The population was 3,549 at the 2000 census.... . He died during surgery.
Jere W. Fountain, 38	September 21, 1935	Bull shark	Killed while swimming in Browns Inlet on the New River near Onslow Beach, North Carolina.
Richard Clark Best Jr, 8	June 20, 1934	Unconfirmed, probably a bull or tiger shark	Killed while standing in the surf at Melbourne, Florida Melbourne, Florida Melbourne is a city in Brevard County, Florida, United States. As of 2006, the population estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau is 76,371. Melbourne is a principal city of the Palm Bay, Florida–Melbourne–Titusville, Florida Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is home to 534,359 people.... .
Thomas N. Martin, 24	April 10, 1933	Unconfirmed, probably a bull or tiger shark	Killed in the surf at Miami Beach, Florida Miami Beach, Florida Miami Beach is a city in Miami-Dade County, Florida, Florida, United States. The city was incorporated on 26 March, 1915.Miami Beach has been one of America's pre-eminent beach resorts for almost a century.... .

1920s

Name, age	date	Species	Location, comments
Unidentified boy	1926	Unconfirmed	Killed by a shark in Sea Bright, New Jersey Sea Bright, New Jersey Sea Bright is a Borough in Monmouth County, New Jersey, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the borough population was 1,818.... .
William J. Goins	May 18, 1926	Great white shark	Killed while swimming off Haleiwa, Oahu, Hawaii, reportedly by a great white shark.
Professor Winslow	November 1924	Unconfirmed	Killed after both legs and arms were severely bitten by a shark in Santurce, Puerto Rico.
Miss Bourne	December 15, 1922	Unconfirmed	Killed after her leg was bitten by a shark in San Juan, Puerto Rico San Juan, Puerto Rico San Juan is the Capital and largest Municipalities of Puerto Rico in Puerto Rico. As of the United States Census Bureau, it has a population of 433,733, making it the List of United States cities by population city under the jurisdiction of the United States.... .
Dorothy MacLatchie, 18	June 17, 1922	Unconfirmed	Killed by a "monster fish" while floating next to the Municipal Pier, St. Petersburg, Florida St. Petersburg, Florida St. Petersburg is a city in Pinellas County, Florida, United States. The city is known as a vacation destination for North American and European vacationers, as well as a politically important swing state in U.S.... .

1910s

Name, age	date	Species	Location, Comments
Unidentified male	April 6, 1919	Unconfirmed	Fisherman knocked into the water and killed in the Florida Keys Florida Keys The Florida Keys are an archipelago of about 1700 islands in the southeast United States. They begin at the southeastern tip of the Florida peninsula, about south of Miami, Florida, and extend in a gentle arc south-southwest and then westward to Key West, Florida, the westernmost of the inhabited islands, and on to the uninhabited Dry Tort... .
J.L. Hanscom	October 11, 1916	Unconfirmed	Fisherman bitten in the leg by a large shark while assisting in hauling in a fishing net in which the shark was entangled. The incident happened in West Palm Beach, Florida West Palm Beach, Florida West Palm Beach, also known as West Palm, is the most populous city in Palm Beach County, Florida, United States. The city is also the oldest incorporated municipality in South Florida.... ; Hanscom died later that day in a hospital in Fort Pierce, Florida Fort Pierce, Florida Fort Pierce is a city in St. Lucie County, Florida, Florida, United States. It is also known as the Sunrise City, sister to San Francisco, California, the Sunset City.... .
Watson "Stanley" Fisher, 24	July 12, 1916	Unconfirmed, experts are divided whether it was a bull or immature great white shark	Attacked while trying to recover Lester Stillwell's body in Matawan Creek, New Jersey. Fisher died at Monmouth Hospital in Long Branch, New Jersey Long Branch, New Jersey Long Branch is a City in Monmouth County, New Jersey, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the city population was 31,340.... a few hours after the attack.
Lester Stillwell, 12	July 12, 1916	Unconfirmed, experts are divided whether it was a bull or immature great white shark	Killed while swimming with playmates in Matawan Creek, a narrow, brackish, tidal river near Matawan, New Jersey Matawan, New Jersey Matawan is a borough in Monmouth County, New Jersey, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the borough population was 8,910.... .
Charles Bruder, 27	July 6, 1916	Unconfirmed, probably a bull or great white shark	Spring Lake, New Jersey Spring Lake, New Jersey Spring Lake is a Borough in Monmouth County, New Jersey, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the borough population was 3,567.... . Both legs were bitten off.
Charles Van Sant Jersey Shore Shark Attacks of 1916 The Jersey Shore shark attacks of 1916 were a series of shark attacks along the coast of New Jersey between July 1 and July 12, 1916, in which four people were killed and one injured.... , 23	July 1, 1916	Unconfirmed, probably a bull or great white shark	Beach Haven, New Jersey Beach Haven, New Jersey Beach Haven is a Borough in Ocean County, New Jersey, New Jersey, in the United States. As of the United States Census, 2000, the borough population was 1,278.... . He died on the beach of a severed femoral artery after being pulled from the surf.
Okomoto	March 3, 1914	Unconfirmed	Washed into the sea while picking opihi and killed by two large sharks.
Bessie Walden, 38	April 15, 1912	Unconfirmed	Jumped off the R.M.S. Titanic sinking at approximately 12:15am and a shark approached her and bit off her arm. Her body was never recovered. There were only about 15 witnesses.
John Bloomquist	September 23, 1911	Unconfirmed, probably a bull shark	Killed by a shark in the Galveston, Texas Galveston, Texas Galveston is a city in and county seat of Galveston County, Texas located on Galveston Island on the Gulf Coast of the United States in the U.S.... ship channel after he jumped overboard to rescue a companion.
Ship's pilot	September 20, 1911	Unconfirmed	Fell overboard and was killed by a shark while swimming in Pensacola Bay Pensacola Bay Pensacola Bay is a bay located in the northwestern part of Florida, USA, known as the Florida Panhandle.The bay, an inlet of the Gulf of Mexico, is located in Escambia County, Florida and Santa Rosa County, Florida, adjacent to the city of Pensacola, Florida, and is about 13 miles long and 2.5 miles wide.... , Santa Rosa County, Florida Santa Rosa County, Florida Santa Rosa County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. According to the 2000 U.S. Census, the population was 117,743, while a July 1, 2005, estimate placed the population at 143,105, an 18% increase making it the 84th fastest growing county in the United States between 2000 and 2005....

1900s

Name, age	Date	Species	Location, Comments
Japanese fisherman	January 8, 1908	Unconfirmed	Killed by a shark while gathering fish stunned by dynamite in Man.
Japanese fisherman	1907	Unconfirmed, probably a tiger shark	Fell into the water and killed by a shark while net fishing near Honomu, Hawaii.
Belton Larkin	March 31, 1907	Bull shark	Killed after a shark, which had been chasing a tarpon, leapt into his small skiff breaking it apart near Punta Gorda, Charlotte County, Florida Charlotte County, Florida Charlotte County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 141,627. The United States Census Bureau 2006 estimate for the county was 158,438 .... . Shark bit his side nearly cutting him in two.
Sutton Davis	July 29, 1905	Unconfirmed	Killed while wading at Davis Shore, east of Beaufort, North Carolina Beaufort, North Carolina Beaufort is a town in Carteret County, North Carolina, North Carolina, United States. The population was 3,771 at the 2000 census and it is the county seat of Carteret County, North Carolina.... .
Unidentified man	1904	Tiger Shark	Man disappeared while swimming off Diamond Head, Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii. A shark was later caught with the head and body of a man in its gut.
Phil Kitchin	ca. 1903	Tiger Shark	Killed while fishing at Koko Head, Oahu, Hawaii. His foot was recovered two days later from a shark.
Hawaiian boy	August 2, 1902	Tiger Shark	Killed while catching crabs at Kalihi, Oahu, Hawaii. Both arms were severed.
Unidentified Coast Guard Personnel	1900-1905	Unconfirmed	Killed while swimming at Ocracoke Inlet, North Carolina.

Before 1900

Name, age	Date	Species	Location, Comments
Delano Wood, 15	Summer 1895	Bull shark	Jacksonville, Florida Jacksonville, Florida Jacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida and the county seat of Duval County, Florida. Since 1968, as a result of the Consolidated city-county of the city and county government , Jacksonville has been the List of United States cities by area city in land area in the continental United States.... .
Captain George Jacob Hanscheldt	1853 or 1854	Unconfirmed	Knocked overboard and killed by a shark near Fernandina Beach, Nassau County, Florida Nassau County, Florida Nassau County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 57,663. The United States Census Bureau 2005 estimate for the county was 64,747 .... .
Charles Chambers	1852	Unconfirmed	Killed while wading ashore from a capsized vessel in Mount Pleasant, Charleston County, South Carolina Charleston County, South Carolina Charleston County is a county located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. According to a 2005 U.S. Census Bureau estimate, its population was 330,368.... .
James Kinney	March 1851	Tiger Shark	Killed while swimming in Honolulu Harbor, Oahu, Hawaii.
Crew member of a pilot boat	ca. 1840	Unconfirmed, probably a Great white shark	Killed while treading water awaiting rescue after being accidentally thrown overboard in Charleston Harbor, Charleston County, South Carolina Charleston County, South Carolina Charleston County is a county located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. According to a 2005 U.S. Census Bureau estimate, its population was 330,368.... . Witnesses estimated the shark to be long.
Joseph Blaney	July 12,1830	Great white shark	Scituate, Massachusetts Scituate, Massachusetts Scituate is a small seacoast town in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, Massachusetts, United States, on Cape Cod Bay midway between Boston, Massachusetts and Plymouth, Massachusetts.... .

General References

Collier, Ralph S., Shark Attacks of the Twentieth Century from the Pacific Coast of North America, Scientia Publishing, LLC, ISBN 0-9719717-4-9.

List of fatal, unprovoked shark attacks in the United States by decade

2000s

1990s

1980s

1970s

1960s

1950s

1940s

1930s

1920s

1910s

1900s

Before 1900

See also

General References

External links