Historical Shark Attacks In Palm Beach

Located in Florida, Palm Beach sits along the Atlantic coast.

This beach is known for its white sands, palm trees, and clear waters, offering a tropical retreat for visitors.

The area is home to various marine life, including sharks.

While shark sightings are common in Florida, encounters near the beach are rare.

Visitors should be cautious and follow safety instructions.

Palm Beach remains a beautiful destination, captivating guests with its natural beauty and peaceful atmosphere.

beach photo

Understanding our data at Palm Beach

In our comprehensive overview of palm beach, the data presented in this article is compiled from a variety of public sources, providing a consolidated view of shark encounters by beach.

As you explore the data, it is important to note that while we have organized the information by specific beaches, neighboring beaches may also have their own detailed posts.

We encourage you to utilize the search function on our website to discover unique posts that may pertain to nearby locations.

Given the unpredictable and often chaotic circumstances surrounding shark attacks, some of the details within our tables have been inferred post-incident.

This is a common practice in the documentation of such events, due to factors like the rapid response required at the scene and the retrospective nature of assembling such data.

Our aim is to offer a resource that not only informs but also enhances awareness and safety practices for all who venture into the marine environment.

As you navigate through the information, we hope it serves as a reminder of the respect and caution that our florida beaches command.

beach photo

Recorded Attack #1

AreaFlorida
LocationAtlantic Avenue, Palm Beach County
Date2002-05-22
Year2002
TypeUnprovoked
CountryUsa
ActivityPlaying In The Surf With His 2 Dogs
NameSean Oliver
SexM
Age35
Injury2-Inch Wound On Dorsum Of Right Foot, 1-Inch Wound On Sole
FatalN
Time06H47
SpeciesN/A

Recorded Attack #2

AreaFlorida
LocationPalm Beach, Palm Beach County
Date1985-03-16
Year1985
TypeUnprovoked
CountryUsa
ActivitySurfing
NameDavid Zarnowski
SexM
Age25
InjuryHand Bitten
FatalN
TimeN/A
SpeciesN/A
beach photo

Recorded Attack #3

AreaFlorida
LocationPalm Beach, Palm Beach County
Date1913-12-30
Year1913
TypeProvoked
CountryUsa
ActivityFishing For Mackerel
NameMotor Boat, Occupants: Mr. & Mrs. Sidney M. Colgate And Their Three Children, Bayard, Caroline And Margaret
SexN/A
AgeN/A
InjuryNo Injury To Occupants But Hull Splintered By Harpooned Shark Provoked Incident
FatalN
TimeN/A
Species13' Shark

Recorded Attack #4

AreaFlorida
LocationPalm Beach Inlet, Palm Beach County
Date1930-08-06
Year1930
TypeUnprovoked
CountryUsa
ActivitySwimming
NameCaptain W. Kemp
SexM
AgeN/A
InjuryLacerations To Foot & Ankle
FatalN
Time06H00
SpeciesN/A
beach photo

Recorded Attack #5

AreaFlorida
LocationPalm Beach, Palm Beach County
Date1987-12-17
Year1987
TypeUnprovoked
CountryUsa
ActivitySurfing
NameTimothy Knipper
SexM
Age16
InjuryLeft Calf Bitten
FatalN
Time13H00
Species1.8 M [6'] Blacktip Shark

Recorded Attack #6

AreaFlorida
LocationPalm Beach County
Date1961-04-30
Year1961
TypeInvalid
CountryUsa
ActivitySplashing
NameEarl Brewster
SexM
Age10
InjuryAbdomen Abraded
FatalUnknown
Time15H00
SpeciesShark Involvement Not Confirmed
beach photo

Recorded Attack #7

AreaFlorida
Location5 Miles South Of Palm Beach
Date1964-08-22
Year1964
TypeInvalid
CountryUsa
ActivitySpearfishing / Free Diving
NameKenny Ruszenas
SexM
Age18.0
Injury3 M To 3.7 M [10' To 12'] Great Hammerhead Shark Shark Only Made A Threat Display. No Injury
FatalUnknown
Time11H30
SpeciesInvalid

Recorded Attack #8

AreaFlorida
LocationPalm Beach County
Date1997-06-09
Year1997
TypeUnprovoked
CountryUsa
ActivitySurfing
NameMichael Massey
SexM
Age18
InjuryLaceration To Left Upper Arm
FatalN
Time18H00
SpeciesPossibly A Spinner Shark
beach photo

Recorded Attack #9

AreaFlorida
LocationBoca Raton, Palm Beach County
Date2016-05-15
Year2016
TypeProvoked
CountryUsa
ActivityTeasing A Shark
NameFemale
SexF
Age23.0
InjuryArm Grabbed Provoked Incident
FatalN
Time13H20
SpeciesNurse Shark, 2'

Recorded Attack #10

AreaFlorida
LocationJupiter, Palm Beach County
Date2003-02-15
Year2003
TypeUnprovoked
CountryUsa
ActivitySwimming
NameJames Bailey
SexM
Age54.0
InjuryLeft Hand Bitten
FatalN
Time12H10
SpeciesSpecies Unidentified
beach photo

Recorded Attack #11

AreaFlorida
Location3 Miles North Of The Inlet At Palm Beach
Date1944-12-02
Year1944
TypeProvoked
CountryUsa
ActivityFishing For Mackerel
Name28' Sea Skiff, Occupants: Alan Moree And Another Fisherman
SexN/A
AgeN/A
InjuryNo Injury To Occupants. After Being Prodded With An Oar, Shark Struck Bow And Sank Boat Provoked Incident
FatalN
TimeN/A
SpeciesTiger Shark, 4.5 To 5.5 M [14'9 To 18'], 2000-Lb

Recorded Attack #12

AreaFlorida
LocationPalm Beach, Palm Beach County
Date2015-11-15
Year2015
TypeUnprovoked
CountryUsa
ActivitySwimming
NameS.R.B.
SexF
AgeN/A
InjuryLeg Injured
FatalN
Time11H00
SpeciesN/A
beach photo

Recorded Attack #13

AreaFlorida
LocationPalm Beach County
Date1968-02-26
Year1968
TypeUnprovoked
CountryUsa
ActivitySurfing
NameFred Hennessee
SexM
Age17
InjuryFoot Lacerated
FatalN
Time13H30
SpeciesN/A

Recorded Attack #14

AreaFlorida
LocationBoca Raton, Palm Beach County
Date1988-10-14
Year1988
TypeUnprovoked
CountryUsa
ActivitySurfing
NameAaron Shulman
SexM
Age15
InjuryLacerations To Left Thigh
FatalN
TimeN/A
Species6' Shark
beach photo

Recorded Attack #15

AreaFlorida
Location2 Miles Off Jupiter, Palm Beach County
Date1964-08-08
Year1964
TypeUnprovoked
CountryUsa
ActivitySpearfishing Using Scuba
NameJames R. Webb
SexM
Age28.0
InjuryNo Injury, Shark Hit Scuba Tank
FatalN
Time12H00
SpeciesHammerhead Shark

Recorded Attack #16

AreaFlorida
LocationPalm Beach, Palm Beach County
Date1985-09-08
Year1985
TypeUnprovoked
CountryUsa
ActivityScuba Diving
NameMorris M. Vorenberg
SexM
AgeN/A
InjuryLaceration And 4 Puncture Wounds To Left Hand
FatalN
Time15H00
Species1.8 M Silky Shark
beach photo

Recorded Attack #17

AreaFlorida
LocationPalm Beach Shores, Palm Beach County
Date2008-03-25
Year2008
TypeUnprovoked
CountryUsa
ActivityWading
NameNick Canganelli
SexM
Age15
InjuryShin Bitten
FatalN
TimeN/A
Species6' Shark

Recorded Attack #18

AreaFlorida
LocationPalm Beach?
Date2003-10-06
Year2003
TypeInvalid
CountryUsa
ActivitySwimming To Shore From Boat Or Kayak
NameMale
SexM
AgeN/A
InjuryFatal, Drowning Or Scavenging. Two Hours Later His Body, With Bite Marks, Washed Ashore.
FatalY
Time--
SpeciesShark Involvement Prior To Death Was Not Confirmed
beach photo

Recorded Attack #19

AreaFlorida
LocationPalm Beach, Palm Beach County
Date1981-10-17
Year1981
TypeUnprovoked
CountryUsa
ActivitySurfing
NameRobert Conklin
SexM
AgeN/A
InjuryNo Details
FatalUnknown
Time09H45
SpeciesN/A

Recorded Attack #20

AreaFlorida
LocationPalm Beach County
Date2017-09-20
Year2017
TypeUnprovoked
CountryUsa
ActivitySurfing
NameRichard Inniss
SexM
AgeN/A
InjuryMinor Lacerations To Sole Of Left Foot
FatalN
TimeMorning
SpeciesN/A
beach photo

Recorded Attack #21

AreaFlorida
LocationPalm Beach, Palm Beach County
DateN/A
YearZ
TypeUnprovoked
CountryUsa
ActivityStanding
NameHorton Chase
SexM
AgeN/A
InjuryAbrasions & Bruises Hip To Ankle
FatalN
TimeN/A
SpeciesN/A

Recorded Attack #22

AreaFlorida
LocationPalm Beach, Palm Beach County
Date1999-11-30
Year1999
TypeUnprovoked
CountryUsa
ActivitySurfing
NameJeremiah Wyche
SexM
Age19
InjuryLacerations To Hand & Wrist
FatalN
Time15H30
SpeciesN/A
beach photo

Recorded Attack #23

AreaFlorida
LocationPalm Beach, Palm Beach County
Date1982-02-13
Year1982
TypeUnprovoked
CountryUsa
ActivitySwimming
NameGladys Sackville
SexF
Age75.0
InjuryShark-Bitten Body Found Floating 1.5 Miles Offshore. Bruises Suggested She May Have Been Bitten By The Shark Before Drowning
FatalY
TimePrior To 10H37
SpeciesN/A

Recorded Attack #24

AreaFlorida
LocationPalm Beach County
Date1964-02-01
Year1964
TypeUnprovoked
CountryUsa
ActivityFloating
NameNoel Feustel
SexM
Age12
InjuryNo Injury
FatalN
TimeN/A
SpeciesHammerhead Shark
beach photo

Recorded Attack #25

AreaFlorida
LocationOcean Ridge, Boca Raton, Palm Beach County
Date1961-10-09
Year1961
TypeInvalid
CountryUsa
ActivitySwimming
NameAlfred Haen
SexM
Age45
InjurySkeletonized, But Shark Involvement May Have Occurred After Death.
FatalUnknown
TimeN/A
SpeciesShark Involvement Prior To Death Was Not Confirmed

Recorded Attack #26

AreaFlorida
LocationPalm Beach, Palm Beach County
Date1964-07-08
Year1964
TypeProvoked
CountryUsa
ActivityTagging Sharks
Name18' Boat Of Morris Vorenberg
SexM
AgeN/A
InjuryNo Injury To Occupant, Hooked Shark Rammed & Bit Boat Provoked Incident
FatalN
TimeN/A
SpeciesWhite Shark
beach photo

Recorded Attack #27

AreaFlorida
LocationBoca Raton, Palm Beach County
Date1961-10-01
Year1961
TypeUnprovoked
CountryUsa
ActivityN/A
NameJacob Horn
SexM
Age45.0
InjuryFatal. His Body Washed Ashore, Presumed Shark Attack
FatalY
TimeN/A
SpeciesN/A

Recorded Attack #28

AreaFlorida
LocationPalm Beach, Palm Beach County
Date1982-03-10
Year1982
TypeUnprovoked
CountryUsa
ActivitySurfing
NameMatthew Mcgrath
SexM
Age16.0
InjuryElbow Bitten
FatalN
Time14H00
SpeciesN/A
beach photo

Recorded Attack #29

AreaFlorida
LocationOff Boca Raton. Palm Beach County
Date2023-04-09
Year2023
TypeWatercraft
CountryUsa
ActivityKayak Fishing
NameAlex Duberti
SexM
AgeN/A
InjuryNo Injury, Kayak Damaged
FatalN
Time07H00
SpeciesN/A

Recorded Attack #30

AreaFlorida
LocationPalm Beach Inlet, Palm Beach County
Date2012-02-26
Year2012
TypeProvoked
CountryUsa
ActivityKite Surfing
NameJason Lasser
SexM
AgeN/A
InjuryLaceration To Right Foot When He Struck A Shark Provoked Incident
FatalN
Time14H00
SpeciesSpinner Shark
beach photo

Recorded Attack #31

AreaFlorida
Location6 Miles North Of Palm Beach
Date1962-08-26
Year1962
TypeWatercraft
CountryUsa
ActivityN/A
Name21' Boat Sank. Occupants: Max Butcher, George Hardy & Peter Thorne
SexN/A
AgeN/A
InjuryNo Injury To Occupants, Sharks Tore Max Butcher's Life Jacket & Pants
FatalN
TimeN/A
SpeciesN/A

Check Out Some Of Our Other Shark Attack Posts

Here we have 5 posts going over some other nearby beaches where shark attacks have happened

Historical Shark Attacks In Walton Rocks Beach
Historical Shark Attacks In South Coast, New Britain
Historical Shark Attacks In Hallandale Beach
Historical Shark Attacks In Tabuk Province, Saudi Arabia
Historical Shark Attacks In Ryukyu, Japan