Las Vegas woman describing shark attack in Florida.
Share this @internewscast.com

A VISITOR was severely injured when a shark bit her during her inaugural visit to Florida.

Originating from Las Vegas, the woman had barely stepped into the water when she encountered the predator.

Las Vegas woman describing shark attack in Florida.
Emily Ross was mauled by a shark during her first-ever trip to FloridaCredit: KVVU-TV
Close-up of a woman's arm showing a shark bite wound.
She was snorkeling in waist-deep water when the shark attacked herCredit: KVVU-TV
Woman giving thumbs up from hospital bed after shark attack in Florida.
The attack left her with a wound the size of a barracuda biteCredit: KVVU-TV

This frightening incident occurred on May 27 in Lauderdale-By-The-Sea, located just south of Pompano Beach.

Emily Ross was snorkeling in waist-deep water when she spotted the animal’s tail.

“I was just wandering around looking at the fish, and then I saw the tail of the shark,” she told Fox affiliate KVVU-TV.

“It came in so incredibly quick and grabbed onto me. I didn’t feel the bite, I just felt the pressure.”

Officials say the size of the wound was consistent with that of a barracuda bite, but the exact species has not been confirmed.

Ross said she saw a smaller shark with black tips, a type known to live in tropical coastal waters.

Blacktip sharks are commonly found in the part of Florida she was in, according to the Florida Museum.

Ross had traveled with her mother’s friend to mark the anniversary of her mother’s death.

It was her first time visiting the Sunshine State.

Underwater cameras in the area have shown a wide range of marine life, including coral reefs, manatees, barracudas, and sharks.

Shocking moment paddleboarders in ‘Jaws’ country come terrifyingly close to giant great white shark stalking waters

Despite the chaos, Ross managed to kick the shark away and rush back to shore.

Bleeding heavily, she called for help as beachgoers rushed to her aid.

Two people named Ivan and Kim, used a towel to create a tourniquet and stop the bleeding.

Emergency crews arrived and rushed Ross to a local trauma center.

Great White Sharks – the facts

Here’s what you need to know…

  • The great white shark is a species of the large mackerel shark
  • They’re typically found in the costal surface waters of all major oceans
  • Great whites are famous for their size
  • Females are bigger than males, growing up to 6.1 metres, or 20 feet, in length
  • At full maturity, a great white can weigh up to 1,905 kilograms, or 4,200 pounds
  • A 2014 study revealed that the lifespan of a great white shark is estimated at 70 years or longer
  • Great white sharks can swim at speeds of over 56km/h or 35mph
  • And they can swim to depths of 1,200m, or 3,900 feet
  • Experts believe that great whites have no natural predators, other than the killer whale in very rare instances
  • Great whites became part of the popular imagination after the 1974 novel Jaws, and the later Steven Spielberg film adaptation
  • Humans aren’t the natural prey of great whites, but they’re responsible for the largest number of unprovoked shark attacks on humans

Doctors performed emergency surgery and skin grafts to repair the extensive wound on her hand.

She has since returned to Las Vegas and is undergoing intense physical therapy to regain full use of her hand.

Ross, a computer programmer, is hoping to get back to work soon.

“I’m still angry. There’s this weird multitude of feelings that I have,” she said.

“It is so uncommon, and for it to happen in such a way that I wasn’t even doing anything cool.”

Ross said she’s had several encounters with sharks while scuba diving but never experienced anything dangerous – until now.

Though she previously worked as a lifeguard, Ross has said beachgoers should always swim near professionals.

“It doesn’t matter how strong of a swimmer you are, you should watch out to only swim when there’s lifeguards present,” she said.

“This is something that I take full responsibility for.”

There were no lifeguards on duty in that area at the time, officials confirmed.

Authorities are urging tourists to stay alert and only swim in designated lifeguarded zones.

Smiling woman on a sailboat.
Ross underwent emergency surgery and skin graftsCredit: Instagram/emyydayy
Great white shark swimming underwater.
Despite the chaos, Ross managed to kick the shark away and rush back to shore (stock image)Credit: Getty
Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
UN warns of millions of AIDS deaths after US funding cuts

UN Alerts of Potential Millions of AIDS Deaths Following US Funding Reductions

The U.S. had committed $4 billion for the worldwide HIV initiative aimed…
Toddler Clay Parisher added to tragic list of dead from historic Texas floods

Tragic Loss: Toddler Clay Parisher Among Latest Victims of Texas Flood Disaster

A tragic addition has been made to the already heart-wrenching list of…
Professor Proposes Renaming His School 'George Floyd University'... Then He Really Goes Off the Rails

Professor Suggests Renaming His School ‘George Floyd University’… Then Things Take a Surprising Turn

In this episode of “No, This Isn’t a Satire Piece From the…

Desperate Plea: Travis Decker ‘Sighting’ Ignored by Police for Weeks, Leaving Me Feeling Unsettled

A NURSE reported that she spent several weeks urging the police to…
Angela Paxton at her husband's impeachment trial.

Senator Angela Paxton Announces Divorce from Texas Attorney General Ken on Biblical Grounds After Nearly 40 Years of Marriage

TEXAS Senator Angela Paxton has filed for divorce from her attorney general…
July 2025 Full buck moon in Capricorn: steady surrender

July 2025 Full Buck Moon in Capricorn: Embrace Stability and Letting Go

There’s a full moon rising in the grit and grind, strive and shine sign of the…
Jacksonville dance instructor arrested for sex crime with minor

Jacksonville Dance Teacher Charged with Sexual Offense Involving Minor

Samuel Penalba, 34, is also accused of trying to delete photo and…
Trial date set for Austin Metcalf’s suspected killer in track meet stabbing

Court Date Scheduled for Austin Metcalf’s Alleged Track Meet Attacker

The 18-year-old suspect accused of killing high school track star Austin Metcalf…
Photo of a Chinese citizen detained in Kyiv, Ukraine, for allegedly attempting to export classified documents.

Ukraine Detains Chinese Father and Son Accused of Spying on Long-Range Missile Program

A CHINESE dad and his son have been accused of attempting to…
Chicago's 27th Ward Alderman Walter Burnett Jr. wants son to replace him in City Council after retirement, drawing criticism

Chicago Alderman Walter Burnett Jr. faces backlash for proposing his son as successor in City Council’s 27th Ward after retirement

The longest-tenured member of the Chicago City Council is stepping down at…
The NEA's antisemitic ADL split: Letters

The NEA and ADL Division: Examining the Antisemitic Allegations

The Issue: The National Education Association cuts ties with the Anti-Defamation League.…
Father and son drown in Lake Michigan during weekend family boating trip tragedy

Tragic Accident: Father and Son Drown in Lake Michigan During Family Boating Trip

A father and his son drowned in Lake Michigan over the weekend…