Beachgoer airlifted after South Carolina suspected shark attack
Beachgoer airlifted after South Carolina suspected shark attack
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What to do if you are bitten by a shark
Tips for what to do if you are bitten by a shark
A beachgoer in South Carolina suffered serious injuries in what local first-responders are calling a suspected shark attack.
The incident, in which local officials said the victim suffered major injuries to her leg, happened in waters off the south end of Hilton Head Island, a local dispatcher confirmed to USA TODAY Thursday, June 19.
The island is about 45 miles northeast of Savannah, Georgia.
"The incident involved a patient with a leg injury consistent with lacerations typically associated with a shark bite," a Hilton Head Island Fire Rescue official wrote in press release obtained by USA TODAY.
Crews responded at 12:07 p.m. on Tuesday, June 17, to a medical emergency near beach mile marker 24 in Sea Pines Beach, according to the release.
Lifeguards and firefighters treated the victim at the scene before she was transported to Hilton Head Island Airport, the release continues, where a medical helicopter flew her to a Savannah facility for further treatment.
The victim's age, name and condition were not immediately known on Thursday, June 19, but first-responders at the scene determined the injuries to be non-life threatening.
Shark siting: Massive great white shark resurfaces off North Carolina coast
Hilton Head Island shark attacks
The incident marked the first reported likely shark bite of Hilton Head's summer season, Shore Beach Service director Mike Wagner told USA TODAY.
The agency, which provides year-round beach patrol for 13.5 miles of the island's beaches according to its website, also responded to assist the victim.
Local charter captain Chip Michalove, The Island Packet reported, said Hilton Head beaches see two or three shark attacks each year, "occasionally seeing spikes of up to a half-dozen."
USA TODAY has reached out to Hilton Head fire officials for more information.
North Carolina suspected shark attack: Warning issued toa beach visitors
Shark bite could mark state's first encounter of 2025
If confirmed, the attack could be the state's first reported shark encounter with a human in 2025.
According to the International Shark Attack File (ISAF), 47 people were bitten in unprovoked attacks last year. Four of them died, including one person in the United States.
Each year, according to ISAF, the world averages about 65 documented shark attacks.
On average, six fatal attacks are reported each year.
Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on X @nataliea
According to the International Shark Attack File (ISAF), 47 people were bit in an unprovoked attack last year and of them, four fatalities took place, including one in the United States.
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USA Today
2 hours ago
- USA Today
'Don't know how we should behave': Is the US South LGBTQ friendly?
'Don't know how we should behave': Is the US South LGBTQ friendly? Show Caption Hide Caption Organizers say political pressure is motivation to continue celebrating Pride Organizers say political pressure is motivation to continue organizing and celebrating Pride, although some corporate support dwindles. LGBTQ+ travelers are taking extra precautions, especially in the South, due to a perceived increase in hostility. Resources like IGLTA, Everywhere is Queer, and LGBTQ+ friendly travel advisors can help travelers find inclusive spaces and plan safer trips. Despite challenges, experts and travelers emphasize the diversity of the South and encourage researching destinations and engaging with local communities. When Madeline Gregg and her wife, Bryn, drive to Florida for vacation, they consider more than just road safety. In certain parts of the South, the 33-year-old certified sex educator said, it feels less risky for her to get out and pump gas while her wife, who is transgender, stays in the car. 'We don't even have to talk about it anymore,' she told USA TODAY. 'It's just assumed.' The couple has also learned which businesses have family or gender-neutral bathrooms conveniently located along the route from their home in Louisville, Kentucky, including in states with restrictive bathroom laws. Even in the Melbourne, Florida, area – where they typically visit three to five times a year and Bryn's family has a beach house – they are cautious about showing public displays of affection. 'We want to enjoy where we are, and if we draw more attention to us, we probably won't enjoy it as much,' she said. As a native Kentuckian, Gregg is accustomed to those kinds of precautions. However, she is among a number of people who have found traveling in the American South more fraught as the federal government targets the LGBTQ+ community. Even within the region, though, LGBTQ+ visitors' experiences can vary widely. Here's what to know when considering a trip to the South. 'I don't know how we should behave' While the South is varied and diverse, the region tends to be less LGBTQ+ friendly than some other parts of the country. Six of the lowest-ranked states on Out Leadership's 2025 State LGBTQ+ Business Climate Index, which gauges the impacts of government policies and attitudes towards the community, were in the Southeast. Gregg said there were previously some areas where the pair felt they had to be more aware during their Florida road trips, but after the 2024 presidential election, it was 'vastly, vastly different.' 'People were more inclined to say things,' she said. 'A lot more stares.' She remembers a passerby even made a disparaging remark about gender identity while they were walking their dog in Florida. The couple has only been to Melbourne in the last six months. The Greggs are not the only ones. Omie, who makes travel content with his fiancé, Davey, under the moniker Traveling Boyfriends, similarly feels a 'level of paranoia' when visiting the region more now than ever before. The 34-year-old said the couple visits the South at least once a year for work or to see friends and family. They asked to be identified by only their professional names due to privacy and safety concerns. They spend much of their time abroad, but are based in Chicago when they're in the U.S. 'Driving from Atlanta to Charleston, you go through places that you're just like, 'I don't know how we should behave,'' he said. 'Like, you have to almost act as friends. You have to look over your shoulder in some ways.' Davey echoed that. The 37-year-old, who is originally from England, said visiting New York comparatively 'feels very, very open, very accepting.' 'It doesn't feel to me like that mentality changes depending on whatever the political sway of the country is at that moment,' he said. 'The South is just not as familiar and feels more uncomfortable. It may be (that) part of that, if I'm being honest, is a bit of ignorance, because I don't know it as well … but also because ... there are stories almost every day of some level of more integrated hate around these parts of the U.S.' Tips for traveling in the South Even so, there are plenty of inclusive spaces to be found. 'The South is incredibly diverse and very nuanced,' said Andy Knowles, a travel advisor with Fora Travel based in North Carolina. He said travelers have to make their own risk assessments before visiting a destination, and recommended doing 'as much research as you feel comfortable doing' on the front end. Getting to know the legislation on the books is a good idea. 'You can't dictate the entire state's sentiment based on their laws, but I think that that is a pretty good starting point,' Knowles said. A queer-friendly travel advisor can help walk clients through the planning process, too. John Tanzella, president and CEO of the International LGBTQ+ Travel Association (IGLTA) suggested connecting 'with local LGBTQ+ groups or trusted travel networks, and choose accommodations and services known for their inclusivity and care. This way, you can focus on enjoying your trip and feeling truly supported.' Travelers can find a database of accommodations on IGLTA's website. Knowles also noted that Expedia has an 'LGBTQ welcoming' search filter. Gregg recommended reaching out to tourism boards or following them on social media. 'The whole reason that they're there is because they want people to come, so they want you to feel as safe as possible in their city,' she said. She and her wife have also used the Everywhere is Queer app to find welcoming businesses. Once there, they have asked for their recommendations, as well. LGBTQ+ friendly destinations in the South Knowles said there are some 'really magical destinations for LGBTQ, travelers' in the region, including popular cities like Key West, Miami and Atlanta. 'New Orleans is, generally speaking, very diverse, very LGBTQ friendly, even in a state that's typically not,' Knowles added. He also recommended Savannah, Georgia, which has a thriving arts scene and more of a gay presence than some other Southern cities. Omie and Davey enjoyed a May trip to Charlotte, North Carolina. Tanzella also highlighted places like Tampa and Dallas, which 'have built warm, welcoming communities with year-round events and genuine allyship.' He advised travelers to look for 'signs of genuine commitment' from destinations, such as those that support LGBTQ+ events and community organizations and have clear anti-discrimination policies. 'Truly inclusive destinations don't just talk the talk during Pride Month, they show up year-round,' he said in an email. Still, during an April trip to San Francisco, Gregg was struck by the affectionate public displays of couples and the widespread use of rainbow flags. In contrast, she and her wife took down their pride flag back home in Louisville because passersby yelled slurs when the couple sat on the porch. 'It's extremely normal for us, but until you experience traveling to other places, you don't really realize how in the closet and how quiet you have to be in public in the South,' she said. She emphasized, however, it's important not to generalize, and attitudes and experiences can vary widely – even by neighborhood. 'I will say that the South has its stereotypes,' added Knowles, who was born and raised in California and moved to Asheville about three-and-a-half years ago. 'And I would just say, do not write off an entire region of the country based on some of the headlines that we see.' Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at ndiller@
Forbes
3 hours ago
- Forbes
Stunning New Golf Course At USA Today's Best Golf Resort In America
July 4th is America's birthday, and American golfers are getting a great present this year. For the past several years, Big Cedar Lodge in the beautiful Missouri Ozarks has continued to improve and expand its golf offerings, to the point where for the first time, back in April, USA Today readers voted it the nation's Best Golf Resort for 2025 (as a longtime but not current USA Today contributor I was asked to be one of several panelists on the nominating committee but did not vote in the competition). Just a month later, the crew at Forbes Vetted named Big Cedar the 'Best Golf Resort in the U.S. for Families' and one of the nation's '8 Best Golf Resorts.' But those awards, as impressive as they are, both came when Big Cedar 'only' had five courses. On July 4th weekend it will officially open its sixth and most unique layout, Cliffhangers, which has been 'soft' opened for limited preview play the past few weeks, and I was able to go and see it. Here is your first look at a stunning new golf course at USA Today's best golf resort in America. There are more than 38,000 golf courses on earth, making it extremely hard to do anything in golf course design that has literally never been done before. I have not played every course, but I have been covering golf travel, courses and design in deep detail for over 30 years, and I have played many of the very highest rated ones on every inhabited continent. So, I am pretty sure that the third hole at Cliffhangers is the only one on any course where golfers tee off from inside a cave and hit their tee shot through a waterfall cascading over the mouth of the cave to a green far below. There's a course in Idaho with a movable island green in a lake that changes locations daily, an ocean island hole in Mexico you have to take an amphibious cart to putt out, and a 19th hole in South Africa that requires a helicopter to reach the clifftop tee. Cliffhangers instantly joins this pantheon of crazy, unforgettable, one-of-a-kind golf. Or as Big Cedar Lodge owner Johnny Morris calls it, 'Adventure Golf.' Morris is the founder, owner and CEO of outdoor retail giant Bass Pros Shops (which also owns outdoor retail giant Cabela's) and has been called 'the Walt Disney of retail' for his elaborate, theatrical and sometimes interactive in-store displays, which involve everything from live alligators to fishing boats docked in the water—inside one of the world's largest pyramids. Morris is famous for his vision, for seeing things others do not and then sparing no expense to turn them into reality, and the 4,600-acre Big Cedar Lodge resort is his personal pride and joy. He grew up in this part of the Ozarks, loves it, and want you to love it too, and he has done a tremendous amount of work to make sure that happens. While his other courses have involved the world's most famous designers (more below), Cliffhangers was the work of Morris and his son John Paul, who looked up at the precipitous, rocky, cliffside terrain and thought what no one else would: why not build a golf course there? 'This is golf on the edge—literally,' said Morris. 'We wanted to create something that celebrates the natural wonder of the Ozarks while delivering an unforgettable adventure for every golfer.' John Paul added, 'Cliffhangers reflects everything we love about nature, adventure, and golf. It's wild, fun, and unlike anything in the game of golf today' He is right about that. Golfers traverse steep cart trails and drive through creeks, past waterfalls, and through the signature cave. And Johnny Morris so wants visitors to go home with a hole in one as a memory that he built extra tee boxes on holes one and ten and greens fee include a shot from each so you get 20 bites at the apple. That's because Cliffhangers is a par-3 course, which as traveling golfers know, is all the rage in golf right now. The best resorts, from Pebble Beach to Pinehurst to Bandon Dunes, along with Streamsong, Cabot Citrus Farms, Sand Valley and many others have been rushing to introduce new par-3 courses, but none of those are as memorable as Cliffhangers, which is meant to be super fun for both the most seasoned golfers and those new to the game (though with all the water features it is entirely possible to lose more balls here than on one of the resort's three championship eighteen hole courses—all of which are ranked in the nation's Top 100 You Can Play by Golf Digest). Also, while many of the new short courses popping up across the country are only nine holes (or random ten or twelve), this is 18-20, the full deal. Not your usual golf course cart path. Big Cedar Resort Like most of the current crop of par-3 courses, born from the tradition of pitch and putt layouts, holes are on the shorter side and I got through Cliffhangers hitting northing more than an eight iron. But the visual variety is staggering, with an island green, peninsula holes, huge elevation changes, and exposed rock and water everywhere—it is built into and on top of cliffs, after all. The cave tee box and waterfall combo make three an instant de facto signature hole, but really just about every hole out here could be one. I mean, just look at the pictures. All of this overlooks Payne's Valley, my favorite course at Big Cedar and a drop-dead visual stunner with more lakes, more greens, more waterfalls, and beauty as far as the eye can see. Another person who previewed the course in advance was golf personality Lauren Thompson, host of The Morning Drive on The Golf Channel. She said, 'I've played many great courses around the world, and Cliffhangers is unlike anything I've ever seen. It's breathtakingly beautiful, incredibly challenging, and the best thing to happen to golf in years.' Years. Aerial view of the new Cliffhangers course. Big Cedar Resort The resort is so big that it has an extensive free shuttle system to move guests around, as lodging options include a hotel, lakefront cabins, rental homes, a safari-style glamping resort, and new luxury golf cabins out at the Mountain Top clubhouse by Payne's Valley and Cliffhangers. I rode to dinner in a shuttle with a group of retired bank executives who had been doing an annual golf trip together for 31 years, and had been all over the place, to many regions and golf resorts. They told me they had just played Cliffhangers and one of them confided, 'It was as much fun as any 'real' course I have ever played.' I loved it too, and it is a perfect short 20-holes to get in before tackling one of the bigger courses at Big Cedar, because in addition to getting you in a great mood, it will help dial in your short game, as the fast bentgrass greens are similar in speed to those on the full-sized layouts. Short courses do not need to have grass this good, but Morris does not cut corners, and those playing Cliffhangers even get to stop into the fancy Payne's Valley halfway house during their round, where all the snacks are free, including the signature premium bison hot dogs, from a herd he raises in a nature reserve near Big Cedar. I recommend you try to make a morning tee time at Cliffhangers before a round at Payne's Valley, for a near-perfect day of golf. As good as it is, golfers are not likely to make a trip to Big Cedar just to play the new par-3 layout, but they might be curious how it became the Best Golf Resort in the U.S. So here's the Big Cedar golf overview in a nutshell. The highest rated course in Missouri is Ozarks National, by the legendary design duo of Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw. The second highest rated course in Missouri is Payne's Valley, the 19-hole effort by Tiger Woods. It is the only public eighteen by Woods in the country, and it is fabulous. I think the magazines always favor Coore and Crenshaw designs, but I firmly believe the Woods course is even better. I played it the day it opened in 2019, I have played it since, and wrote this story here at Forbes, 'Tiger Wood's First Public U.S. Golf Course is Awesome.' It is fun, extremely playable, has some great risk/reward holes so it appeals to all caliber players, and it is visually stunning. It is telling that they sell more tee times at Payne's Valley than on any other course. The third highest rated course in Missouri is Buffalo Ridge, a Tom Fazio design that has bison grazing next to its fairways (not the ones that make the hot dogs). All three eighteens are ranked in the Top 100 in the U.S., a feat only a handful of resorts have ever achieved. On top of this, the facilities, service and conditioning are first rate, and the concept of standout Midwestern hospitality is very much evident. Big Cedar also has caddies, forecaddies and extensive practice facilities, including a putting course inspired by the Himalayas in St. Andrews, Scotland and designed by 8-time Major Champion Tom Watson. Then there are two stunning 'regular' par-3 courses, not shortened versions, but all full-length holes, up to 221-yards. The Gary Player designed Mountain Top is a walking-only 13-hole stunner carved through rock formations and rolling terrain. The Jack Nicklaus Signature Top of the Rock 9-holer is the only par-3 course ever used in competition in a PGA Tour sanctioned event, the Bass Pro Shops Legends of Golf, which used to be played here and on Buffalo Ridge. These par-3 courses are so good that you could make a trip to Big Cedar just to play them and Cliffhangers, though I would not pass up the 'big' courses. But as one-shotters go, both Mountain Top and Top of the Rock are as good as anything I have seen on earth. Golf Magazine finally added a ranking of short courses to its more famous Top 100 in the U.S. and Top 100 in the World lists, before Cliffhangers. It ranked the 25 Best Par-3 Courses in the World, but unlike the Top 100, courses were not ranked in order, just the best 25. The vast majority are at the world's top ultra-private clubs, like Augusta National, Pine Valley and the Olympic Club. Less than ten of the world's courses on the list are public, and both Mountain Top and Top of the Rock made the cut. That means until Cliffhangers opens July 4th, every one of the five golf courses at Big Cedar has made the most important 'Best' lists in the industry, and that is no coincidence. In addition to the stunning new golf course, for fishing fans, Big Cedar Lodge sits right on 43,000-acre Table Rock Lake, host of a professional bass tournament and renowned as one of the best fishing spots in the country. Being owned alongside Bass Pro Shops, it is no surprise that Big Cedar has two different state-of-the-art marinas equipped with the newest boats and gear, and it is arguably the best freshwater fishing resort in the country as well, though USA Today does not rate those. Yet.
Fox News
10 hours ago
- Fox News
Beaches with most shark attacks as Americans pay tribute to 'Jaws' and activist weighs in
Print Close By Ashley DiMella Published June 20, 2025 With Friday marking the 50th anniversary of the iconic film "Jaws," many Americans are paying tribute to sharks even as reports of recent attacks grab headlines. On Tuesday, a swimmer was bitten on the leg while in South Carolina, according to Hilton Head Fire and Rescue. A nine-year-old girl was also recently bitten while snorkeling off Boca Grande, Florida. DAREDEVIL TO SWIM SHARK-FILLED WATERS IN CELEBRATION OF 'JAWS' 50TH ANNIVERSARY There have been 47 unprovoked shark bites globally in 2024, with 28 taking place in the U.S., according to the Florida Museum of Natural History's International Shark Attack File (ISAF). Florida beaches have logged the highest number of shark attacks, with 942 unprovoked bites since 1837. Hawaii has 199, while California has 141, ISAF has noted. Activist Julie Andersen, founder of the New York-based Shark Angels, told Fox News Digital that recent attacks do not indicate an increase in sharks in the oceans. SHARKS SURROUND SNORKELING TOURIST DURING WILD ENCOUNTER: 'THEY LOOKED TERRIFYING' "The rise in sightings is due to a mix of factors: more people in the water, better technology, shifting ocean conditions, and in some cases, successful conservation," she said. "Today, more swimmers, surfers and beachgoers are capturing and sharing their experiences." She added, "With drones, GoPros and social media, encounters that once went unnoticed are now widely shared. Sharks have always been there. We're just seeing them more often." Shark Angels is dedicated to shark conservation by transforming fear into fascination and promoting education to dispel myths about sharks, the group notes. RARE 16TH-CENTURY SHIPWRECK FOUND AT RECORD DEPTH IN FRENCH WATERS: 'REMARKABLE DISCOVERY' Andersen said that in places like California or Cape Cod, Massachusetts, white shark populations are rebounding "thanks to decades of protection." She said their return is a sign of healthier oceans. The American Association for the Advancement of Science estimates about 274,000 sharks are killed globally each day. Andersen said several beach communities are seeing higher numbers of sharks this summer. "Based on trends over the past few years, shark behavior is clearly shifting," she said. "From the West Coast to the East Coast and even parts of Mexico, sightings are increasing in places like California, Cape Cod, the Carolinas, Florida, and Baja." Andersen said, "New Smyrna Beach in Florida holds the title of 'shark bite capital of the world.' Located in Volusia County, it consistently tops global charts for shark encounters." For more Lifestyle articles, visit She also said that "most of these bites are minor, often from migrating small blacktip sharks mistaking toes and fingers for small bait fish. Many don't even require stitches." One daring endurance athlete is paying a special tribute to "Jaws" by swimming 62 miles around the island of Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts — where the film was set. Lewis Pugh said his goal is to raise awareness of the need to protect sharks and to change public perception of the mighty fish. Pugh said the popular 1975 movie showcased sharks as "villains, as cold-blooded killers," he told The Associated Press (AP). "It was a film about sharks attacking humans and for 50 years, we have been attacking sharks … It's completely unsustainable. It's madness. We need to respect them," Pugh told AP. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER Not sure what to do if you encounter a shark in the water? The folks at Shark Angels shared some insights to consider. 6 shark tips you must know this summer 1. "If a shark comes near you in the water, stay calm. Do not panic." 2. "Make and maintain eye contact. Sharks are opportunistic predators and prefer an easy target. When they know you see them, they are much less likely to approach." 3. "Avoid flailing, yelling or trying to hit the shark. Quick, erratic movements can trigger a response." CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP 4. "Instead, move slowly and steadily. Keep your eyes on the shark and calmly head toward shore or safety." 5. "Do not act like prey. Just as you would not run from a lion or a bear, do not flee from a shark." 6. "If you come across one in the wild, give it space and stay composed. Sharks are not looking for a human meal." Print Close URL
