|
In the past year or so we have heard more concern about shark attacks than ever, there are even some old timers in the area who seem to be worried. So here is some more shark risk info:
* In the 10 years from 1990 to 2000 two people were killed by shark attacks in the state of Florida.
* In the 120 years since 1882 nineteen people have been killed in shark attacks in Florida.
* In that same 120 years no one has been killed in Wakulla County (the county Panacea is in) or Franklin County (the county just east of Panacea, where Alligator Point is)
* There have been only four shark fatalities in 120 years within a 200 mile radius of Alligator Point.
* No one has died of a shark attack in Florida since 2000. There was a highly publicized incident in 2001 in Pensacola (200+ miles west) in which a boy was badly mauled by a shark.
* Worldwide on average 15 people a year are killed by sharks and 150 people by falling coconuts.
So yes you do take a risk when you swim, there are lots of sharks out there and sometimes they attack, but not very damned often. So if you are prone to worry about such things here is a list of some other causes of death in Florida to fret over:
|
Events to Worry About |
Florida Deaths |
|
|
|
|
Shark Attacks |
6 in 42 years |
|
Alligator Attacks |
11 in 54 years |
|
Lightning Strikes |
313 in 30 years |
|
Hypothermia (freezing to death) |
249 in 20 years |
|
Drowning |
353 in 1997 |
|
Pedestrians Crossing Florida Streets |
1083 in 2 years
(highest in US) |
|
Skin Cancer |
at least 400 in 1 year |
|
Automobile Accidents |
2753 in 1996 |
|
Suffocation/Breathing Obstruction |
231 in 1997 |
|
Residential Fire/Burns |
140 in 1996 |
|
Florida Homicides
|
1120 in 1997 |
|
Accidental Firearms Related |
34 in 1997 |
|
Bicycle Fatalities |
124 in 1997 |
|
Boating Accidents |
46 in 2000 |
|
Electric Chair |
44 in last 23 years |
|
Tornados |
85 in 45 years |
|
Cosmetic Surgery Fatalities |
5 in 11 months |
|
Bear Attack |
0 ever |
Youtube video of a typical Panacea Shark Another Panacea Youtube Shark
The only thing on the list that worries us less than sharks are bears. So we’ll take our chances and swim when and where we want. A greater risk appears to be coming to Florida and having a quack talk you into liposuction; beware the plastic surgeons!
The only person we know of who has been bitten by a shark is a friend of Rob's who worked at the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago. One December morning she was transferring a shark from one tank to another and was pretty severely bitten on the hand and arm. She had a hard time convincing the ER people that she was in need of treatment from a shark attack, apparently they get even fewer shark attacks in Chicago than in Florida.
The Florida Museum of Natural History has a really good website with lots of practical and interesting information on shark attack danger. Click Here
Sharks may not kill many people, but people kill millions of shark every year.........think about it.
contact Rob and Kate at kate@alligatopoint.org
We once saw an atheist swimming in the Gulf near Panacea. Suddenly he saw a shark in the water. The atheist started swimming towards the boat. As he looked back, the atheist saw the shark turn his head towards him. The atheist started swimming faster. He's scared to death. Just then, he turned his head to see the jaws of the great white beast open up, revealing its teeth. In horror, the atheist screamed, "Oh God! Save me!"
In an instant, time was frozen and a bright light shone down from above. The man was motionless in the water as he heard the voice of God say, "You are an atheist. Why do you call upon me when you do not believe in me?"
Aghast with confusion and knowing he couldn't lie, the man replied, "Well, that's true, I don't believe in you, but how about the shark? Can you make the shark believe in you?"
The Lord replied, "As you wish," and the light retracted back into the heavens.
The man could feel the water begin to move once again. He looked back to see the jaws of the shark start to close down on him, when all of a sudden the shark stopped and pulled back. Shocked, the man looked at the shark as the huge beast closed its eyes and bowed its head and said, "Thank you Lord for this food which I am about to receive..."
Home
|
![[Top]](../images/spacer.gif){kind=small}
