ORLANDO, Fla. — Volusia County, but more so New Smyrna Beach, is yet again deemed the shark bite capital of the world, according the International Shark Attack File’s 2020 update. Other findings the report documented included global unprovoked shark attacks have decreased for the third year in a row.
However, what could be the first shark-attack related fatality of 2021 has already been reported earlier this month.
Kaelah Marlow, 19, of New Zealand, was swimming on Jan. 7 off the shores of Waihī Beach in New Zealand when she was injured in the water and died shortly later, according to a report by CNN. No confirmation has been made yet as to the cause of death, but early indications show the injury is consistent with a shark bite, CNN reported.
