List of all shark attacks in Virginia
Fatal Attacks
5
Unprovoked Attacks
12
Total Attacks
19
There have been a total of 19 shark attacks in Virginia. Out of those, 5 have unfortunately been fatal which brings the percentage of fatal attacks to 26.32%. 12 attacks came out of the blue while 7 have been provoked by humans.
Provoked
Unprovoked
Fatal
Non Fatal
| Location | Date | Time | Species | Activity | Injury | Fatal | Person |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sandridge Beach | 23-09-2010 | 16h30 | Surfing | Bite to left ankle and knee | NO | 18yo Caleb Kauchak | |
| Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center, Virginia Beach | 23-05-2007 | Morning | A 10-year-old 94-pound pregnant blacktip reef shark | Reviving a sedated shark | Left shin bitten by captive shark PROVOKED INCIDENT | NO | 40yo Beth Firchau |
| Sandbridge Beach, Princess Anne County | 31-08-2001 | 18h00 | bull shark | Swimming | FATAL, thigh bitten | YES | 10yo David Peltier |
| Sandridge Beach, Virginia Beach, Princess Anne County | 31-12-1998 | Shark involvement not confirmed | Body surfing | Abrasions | NO | male | |
| Virginia Beach | 22-08-1998 | Dusky shark, 12' | Spearfishing | Lacerations to left hand | NO | male | |
| Wreck of the Navy Barge, 22 miles SE of Rudee | 31-12-1997 | sandtiger shark | Spearfishing on scuba & transferring fish onto a stringer | Shark grasped diver's gloved hand. Glove was soaked with fish blood & slime | NO | male | |
| Croatan Beach, Virginia Beach, | 30-06-1991 | Shark involvement not confirmed | Boogie boarding | Severe laceration to foot | NO | 13yo Michael Hootman | |
| Coral Gardens Reef, 6 miles SSE of Chicoteague Inlet | 31-12-1988 | Spearfishing using scuba & trailing a string of bleeding fish | No injury, shark grabbed his fish and chased him to the boat | NO | male | ||
| Virginia Beach, Princess Anne County | 14-08-1983 | Morning | Sand shark | Swimming | Foot bitten | NO | 14yo Jill Redenbaugh |
| False Cape | 15-08-1973 | 1.5 m to 1.8 m [5' to 6'] blacktip shark | Crabbing (spearing crabs) | Elbow bitten | NO | 17yo Chris DeFord |
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