A beach day in Daytona Beach Shores turned frightening on Saturday evening when a 21-year-old man from Georgia was pulled from the surf with what officials say was a suspected shark bite to his left foot and ankle at the Dunlawton Beach approach. Lifeguards brought him in from waist-to-chest-deep water, treated him on the sand, and then sent him to a nearby hospital. Volusia County responders described his injuries as non-life-threatening.
Volusia County Beach Safety teams reached the Dunlawton Beach Approach around 5:30 p.m. on July 25. They treated the tourist at the scene before taking him for further care, according to FOX 35 Orlando. Rescuers told the station the man never actually saw what bit him.
Official response and local precautions
Volusia County’s Beach Safety division posts daily statistics and conditions reports and urges swimmers to "always swim in front of a lifeguard tower," according to Volusia County Beaches. The county also points beachgoers to its free Beach Navigator app, which offers real-time information on staffed lifeguard towers and the status of beach driving ramps.
Why Volusia sees more encounters
The Florida Museum of Natural History’s International Shark Attack File notes that a mix of local conditions — warm, bait-rich surf, nearby inlets, and lots of people in the water — helps explain why Volusia records more shark encounters than most U.S. counties. In its 2025 summary, the museum reported that Volusia accounted for more than half of Florida’s shark bites that year and advises basic precautions such as staying out of the ocean at dawn and dusk and steering clear of active fishing spots.
Dunlawton approach context
The Dunlawton Beach Approach itself has been under extra scrutiny this summer. County crews recently installed new safety barriers there after a fatal crash in June, part of a broader effort to harden busy beach access points, according to WESH. The approach is heavily used by south-Volusia visitors, and county staff says they keep close tabs on both ramp and lifeguard tower status.
Beach Safety officials ask anyone who spots an injured swimmer or suspicious marine life to notify a lifeguard or call the division at 386-239-7873, per Volusia County Beaches. Authorities say they will release more details on the suspected shark bite as information becomes available.
