ANNA MARIA ISLAND — Public safety officials had a busy weekend on Anna Maria Island that included a rare shark-bite incident and a boat collision that injured nine people.
On Sunday afternoon, a man described as being in his early 20s arrived with others by boat at the Kingfish Boat Ramp with an injury to his lower leg said to have been caused by an encounter with a shark just north of Bean Point.
His fellow boaters had placed a tourniquet on the wound which may have saved the limb. He was transported to Blake Hospital for treatment. Although sharks can be plentiful in the large pass, they very rarely bite humans.
The boat arrived at the ramp while several departments were responding to an accident between a 50-foot racing boat and a 24-foot bow runner. The first boat had two people aboard, while the latter carried nine, five of whom were children.
Authorities say eight people on the bow runner sustained minor injuries while a 41-year-old female was critically injured with lacerations to the head and face. She was transported by medevac to Blake Hospital. The two people aboard the racer were reportedly uninjured.
West Manatee Fire Rescue, Manatee County Marine Rescue, the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, Manatee County EMS, North River Fire District, and Holmes Beach Police Department responded.
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