Virginia Beach, located along the Atlantic Ocean in the USA, is a beautiful coastal spot known for its golden sands and warm waters.
The area is home to various marine creatures like fish, dolphins, and sea turtles.
Although there have been rare shark sightings, encounters are unlikely.
It's advisable to follow safety rules when swimming, such as staying close to the shore.
In summary, Virginia Beach offers a peaceful beach experience with plenty of natural attractions to enjoy.
Understanding our data at Virginia
In our comprehensive overview of virginia, 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 areas, neighboring areas 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.
Recorded Attack #1
Area
Virginia
Location
Virginia Beach
Date
1998-08-23
Year
1998
Type
Unprovoked
Country
Usa
Activity
Spearfishing
Name
Male
Sex
M
Age
N/A
Injury
Lacerations To Left Hand
Fatal
N
Time
N/A
Species
Dusky Shark, 12'
Recorded Attack #2
Area
Virginia
Location
Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center, Virginia Beach
Date
2007-05-24
Year
2007
Type
Provoked
Country
Usa
Activity
Reviving A Sedated Shark
Name
Beth Firchau
Sex
F
Age
40
Injury
Left Shin Bitten By Captive Shark Provoked Incident
Fatal
N
Time
Morning
Species
A 10-Year-Old 94-Pound Pregnant Blacktip Reef Shark
Recorded Attack #3
Area
Virginia
Location
Croatan Beach, Virginia Beach,
Date
1991-07-01
Year
1991
Type
Unprovoked
Country
Usa
Activity
Boogie Boarding
Name
Michael Hootman
Sex
M
Age
13
Injury
Severe Laceration To Foot
Fatal
N
Time
N/A
Species
Shark Involvement Not Confirmed
Recorded Attack #4
Area
Virginia
Location
150 Miles Off Cape Henry
Date
1954-10-07
Year
1954
Type
Sea Disaster
Country
Usa
Activity
American Freighter Mormackite, Bound From Buenos Aires For Baltimore, Capsized & Sank In Heavy Seas
Name
Second Cook
Sex
M
Age
N/A
Injury
Rescue Aircraft Saw Bodies In The Water Being Bitten By Sharks. One Survivor Saw A Shark Take Off A Man’S Leg & Another Reported That The Second Cook Was Killed By A Shark
Fatal
Y
Time
N/A
Species
N/A
Recorded Attack #5
Area
Virginia
Location
At Sea, Several Hundred Miles South East Of Cape Henry, Virginia
Date
1939-05-03
Year
1939
Type
Unprovoked
Country
Usa
Activity
Washed Off Freighter Huncliff By A Freak Wave
Name
John Heagan
Sex
M
Age
N/A
Injury
Fatal, Attacked By Shark, Body Not Recovered
Fatal
Y
Time
N/A
Species
N/A
Recorded Attack #6
Area
Virginia
Location
Wreck Of The Navy Barge, 22 Miles Se Of Rudee
Date
1998-01-01
Year
1998
Type
Unprovoked
Country
Usa
Activity
Spearfishing On Scuba & Transferring Fish Onto A Stringer
Name
Male
Sex
M
Age
N/A
Injury
Shark Grasped Diver's Gloved Hand. Glove Was Soaked With Fish Blood & Slime
Fatal
N
Time
N/A
Species
Sandtiger Shark
Recorded Attack #7
Area
Virginia
Location
Virginia Beach, Princess Anne County
Date
1983-08-15
Year
1983
Type
Unprovoked
Country
Usa
Activity
Swimming
Name
Jill Redenbaugh
Sex
F
Age
14.0
Injury
Foot Bitten
Fatal
N
Time
Morning
Species
Sand Shark
Recorded Attack #8
Area
Virginia
Location
Norfolk
Date
1894-09-12
Year
1894
Type
Unprovoked
Country
Usa
Activity
Bathing
Name
Michael Daly
Sex
M
Age
N/A
Injury
Lacerations To Leg
Fatal
N
Time
N/A
Species
N/A
Recorded Attack #9
Area
Virginia
Location
Hog Island
Date
1960-07-03
Year
1960
Type
Provoked
Country
Usa
Activity
Fishing, Tossing Netted Shark Onboard
Name
Elsworth Smith
Sex
M
Age
41.0
Injury
Right Arm Bitten Provoked Incident
Fatal
N
Time
12H00
Species
Sand Shark
Recorded Attack #10
Area
Virginia
Location
Hampton Roads
Date
1891-06-11
Year
1891
Type
Invalid
Country
Usa
Activity
Fishing For Sharks When He Became Entangled In Net & Fell Overboard
Name
John Howard
Sex
M
Age
N/A
Injury
Fatal, But Death May Have Been Due To Drowning
Fatal
Unknown
Time
N/A
Species
Shark Involvement Prior To Death Unconfirmed
Recorded Attack #11
Area
Virginia
Location
Sandridge Beach
Date
2010-09-24
Year
2010
Type
Unprovoked
Country
Usa
Activity
Surfing
Name
Caleb Kauchak
Sex
M
Age
18
Injury
Bite To Left Ankle And Knee
Fatal
N
Time
16H30
Species
N/A
Recorded Attack #12
Area
Virginia
Location
Virginia Beach, Princess Anne County
Date
1956-01-01
Year
1956
Type
Provoked
Country
Usa
Activity
Removing Shark From Net
Name
Josh Vaughan
Sex
M
Age
N/A
Injury
Punctures On Shin & Calf Provoked Incident
Fatal
N
Time
N/A
Species
40-Lb Sand Shark
Recorded Attack #13
Area
Virginia
Location
Virginia Beach, Princess Anne County
Date
1956-01-01
Year
1956
Type
Unprovoked
Country
Usa
Activity
Swimming
Name
Girl
Sex
F
Age
14.0
Injury
No Details
Fatal
Unknown
Time
N/A
Species
N/A
Recorded Attack #14
Area
Virginia
Location
False Cape
Date
1973-08-16
Year
1973
Type
Unprovoked
Country
Usa
Activity
Crabbing (Spearing Crabs)
Name
Chris Deford
Sex
M
Age
17.0
Injury
Elbow Bitten
Fatal
N
Time
N/A
Species
1.5 M To 1.8 M [5' To 6'] Blacktip Shark
Recorded Attack #15
Area
Virginia
Location
Norfolk
Date
1852-08-01
Year
1852
Type
Unprovoked
Country
Usa
Activity
Swimming
Name
A Deserter From The U.S. Pennsylvania
Sex
M
Age
N/A
Injury
Fatal
Fatal
Y
Time
N/A
Species
N/A
Recorded Attack #16
Area
Virginia
Location
Sandbridge Beach, Princess Anne County
Date
2001-09-01
Year
2001
Type
Unprovoked
Country
Usa
Activity
Swimming
Name
David Peltier
Sex
M
Age
10.0
Injury
Fatal, Thigh Bitten
Fatal
Y
Time
18H00
Species
Bull Shark
Recorded Attack #17
Area
Virginia
Location
Sandridge Beach, Virginia Beach, Princess Anne County
Date
1999-01-01
Year
1999
Type
Invalid
Country
Usa
Activity
Body Surfing
Name
Male
Sex
M
Age
N/A
Injury
Abrasions
Fatal
Unknown
Time
N/A
Species
Shark Involvement Not Confirmed
Recorded Attack #18
Area
Virginia
Location
Coral Gardens Reef, 6 Miles Sse Of Chicoteague Inlet
Date
1989-01-01
Year
1989
Type
Unprovoked
Country
Usa
Activity
Spearfishing Using Scuba & Trailing A String Of Bleeding Fish
Name
Male
Sex
M
Age
N/A
Injury
No Injury, Shark Grabbed His Fish And Chased Him To The Boat
Fatal
N
Time
N/A
Species
N/A
Recorded Attack #19
Area
Virginia
Location
200 Miles Off Hampton Roads, Virginia, Usa
Date
1928-11-12
Year
1928
Type
Sea Disaster
Country
Usa
Activity
Sea Disaster, Sinking Of The Ss Vestris
Name
Earl Devore
Sex
M
Age
N/A
Injury
Fatal
Fatal
Y
Time
N/A
Species
N/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
