German tourist Karin Ulrike Stei, 47, of Konstanz, who was swimming in waist-deep water with another friend from Germany, on Wednesday (May 9) at Florida's Vero Beach, was suddenly attacked by a shark only thirty yards from shore, when she sustained a serious wound to her left leg.
Subsequently, Ms. Stei was flown to Lawnwood Regional Medical Center and Heart Institute in Fort Pierce. The shark bite took a large section of Stei’s upper left thigh down to the bone, according to a lifeguard. Currently, she is listed in serious condition.
COMMENT: Fortunately, for Ms. Stei, there were plenty of lifeguards and Good Samaritans nearby to come to her aid, who rendered first aid immediately and expedited her to the hospital.
As I have mentioned in several other postings in the past, there are a number of proactive steps that swimmers and divers can take to avoid shark attacks: (1) Enter the water only in areas where lifeguards are present; (2) Ask local police and first responders if there have been any shark attacks in the areas you plan to swim in; (3) comply with beach area signs that say "no swimming"; (4) never swim alone-always swim with a buddy who can come to your aid; and (5) always have a cell phone handy.
It is unknown as to what type of shark may have attacked Stei, but first responders intimated that it was probably a larger shark when compared to the smaller black-tip sharks that are occasionally seen farther out from the beach.
Subsequently, Ms. Stei was flown to Lawnwood Regional Medical Center and Heart Institute in Fort Pierce. The shark bite took a large section of Stei’s upper left thigh down to the bone, according to a lifeguard. Currently, she is listed in serious condition.
COMMENT: Fortunately, for Ms. Stei, there were plenty of lifeguards and Good Samaritans nearby to come to her aid, who rendered first aid immediately and expedited her to the hospital.
As I have mentioned in several other postings in the past, there are a number of proactive steps that swimmers and divers can take to avoid shark attacks: (1) Enter the water only in areas where lifeguards are present; (2) Ask local police and first responders if there have been any shark attacks in the areas you plan to swim in; (3) comply with beach area signs that say "no swimming"; (4) never swim alone-always swim with a buddy who can come to your aid; and (5) always have a cell phone handy.
It is unknown as to what type of shark may have attacked Stei, but first responders intimated that it was probably a larger shark when compared to the smaller black-tip sharks that are occasionally seen farther out from the beach.
Vero Beach is a city in Indian River County, Florida. Piper Aircraft Inc. builds aircraft in Vero Beach. Major industries also include citrus fruit packing and tourism.
