History with ‘Hud’: Living with sharks for centuries along Cape Fear coast
NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — Many people list sharks as one of the main reasons they’re afraid of the ocean. However, you’re more likely to be struck by lightning than you are to be bitten by a shark. Even so, the Cape Fear has had its share of shark stories over the centuries.
While rip currents are a far more present danger than sharks, dozens if not hundreds of people have been bitten – some severely – by the sea animals along Cape Fear beaches in all three counties. Of the local beaches, Carolina Beach tops the list for most shark bites.
One of the earliest documented shark attacks took place near Southport in July of 1870 when a man had his foot bitten and toe severed while bathing in the water. Another encounter took place a few miles away in August of 1900, when a man received a bite on his left hand.
While neither of those were deadly, a likely shark attack resulting in a death occurred in October of 1989 near Wrightsville Beach. A 49-year-old man was diving in the late afternoon and found dead later on, with shark involvement being suspected, but not confirmed.
Another man died in 1995 after being found to have drowned, but scientists later identified shark bites on his body, which they believe took place pre-death.
In 2015, a non-fatal but serious shark attack took place on a June afternoon in Oak Island. A 13-year-old girl and a 16-year-old boy each lost part of an arm in separate shark attacks, about 90 minutes apart. The girl also had serious tissue damage to her leg.
Just a couple of months ago, a 14-year-old visiting North Topsail Beach from West Virginia was bitten on the leg and ankle while swimming in waist-deep water. He was taken to the hospital and later released.
Not surprisingly, shark attacks have gradually increased over the years as the population has also gone up. North Carolina ranks fifth nationally, with 77 unprovoked attacks since 1935. But while shark attacks are scary, with such a low chance of anything happening, beach-goers should use caution but rest assured when vacationing to the coast.
Meteorologist Matthew Huddleston (‘Hud’) has always had two major loves – weather and history. While you can watch him talk about weather each morning on WWAY, he looks forward to bringing you a little piece of history each Thursday on WWAY’s website.
To read other History with ‘Hud’ segments, click HERE.
