WALTON COUNTY, FL. (WBRC) – After two shark attacks were reported Friday in Walton County, Florida, WBRC has learned that two of the attack’s three victims were from the Birmingham area.
According to a post from St. Luke’s Birmingham, Lulu Gribbin and McCray Faust were seriously injured in the attack. According to the church, they will hold a community-wide prayer service for the two girls on Sunday, June 9 at 4 p.m. in the pavilion.
Around 1:20 p.m., officials said a 45-year-old woman was reported swimming just past the first sandbar at Watersound Beach, where she suffered significant trauma to her abdomen and pelvic area, as well as than his left forearm. The woman was treated immediately on the beach before being flown to HCA Medical Center in Fort Walton Beach in critical condition.
According to the South Walton Fire District, the second attack, believed to be by Gribbin and McCray, occurred at 2:56 p.m. in the Seacrest Beach area, approximately four miles from the scene of the first attack. Authorities say the girls were just inside the first sandbar, in waist-deep water.
“The first victim suffered serious injuries to an upper limb and a lower limb, both requiring the application of tourniquets. This victim was transported in critical condition via the Okaloosa Med flight to Ascension Sacred Heart Pensacola. Victim number two received what was described as bodily injury to his right lower extremity, or right foot. She was transported by firefighters to Ascension Bay Medical Center where she is reported to be in stable condition.
On Saturday, the Panama City Beach Police Department and the Bay County Sheriff’s Office conducted an aerial search during which they identified a notable presence of sharks, particularly bull sharks, near the first sandbar.
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