Crime & Safety

Shark Bite Suspected in Spear Fisherman's Injury

Longboat Key man was flown to Bayfront Medical Center.

A Longboat Key man was flown to Bayfront Medical Center after he was apparently bitten by a shark while spearfishing in the Gulf of Mexico, according to the Manatee County Sheriff's Office.

Charles Wickersham, 21, was searfishing with several others people about three to six miles off of the coast when he was bitten on his left thigh by what appeared to be a shark, according to the report.

Deputies were called to the Rod and Reel Pier in Anna Maria just after 3 p.m. to help Wickersham. He was brought to the pier and then bayflighted to Bayfront Medical Center with a non-life threatening injury to his leg.

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