A Florida Navy base employee was attacked by a shark during a lunch break swim Monday morning, leaving him in critical condition, according to military officials.
The victim, an employee at the Naval Surface Warfare Center-Panama City Division who has worked at the base for four years, was rushed into immediate surgery after suffering severe injuries to both of his arms, NBC affiliate WJHG reported.
The man, described as being in his late 20s, remains in critical condition.
Base officials said that they did not have a further update on his medical status as of Wednesday, according to an emailed statement from base spokesman Zachary Harris sent to Stars and Stripes.
The incident occurred shortly before noon at Naval Support Activity Panama City. Base leader Cmdr. Tristan Oliveria said that the employee was swimming with a colleague during their scheduled lunch break when the shark struck. The second swimmer managed to escape the encounter without injuries.
“First and foremost, our prayers and thoughts go out to the family, and we want to send our appreciation to the first responders who rendered initial aid and made sure that the victim was properly and expeditiously taken to HCA Gulf Coast Hospital,” Oliveria told WJHG.
Cellphone footage of the incident was shared on X. The brief video shows the man screaming for help in the water near the marina as a dorsal fin thrashes violently around him before he is pulled beneath the surface.
Emergency services arrived at the scene shortly after 11:45 a.m. to administer initial medical aid before transporting the victim to the hospital facility. State and local authorities have launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the attack, according to reports.
The incident follows 11 unprovoked shark attacks recorded in Florida last year, according to a tracking database maintained by the Florida Museum of Natural History.
