Destin Shark Attack Kills 14-Year-Old Girl
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Updated: 8:12 PM Jun 25, 2005
Destin Shark Attack Kills 14-Year-Old Girl
A 14-year-old Louisiana girl was killed Saturday in a shark attack in Destin near a Walton County.
Posted: 8:12 PM Jun 25, 2005
Reporter: AP
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DESTIN, FL - A 14-year-old Louisiana girl was killed Saturday in a shark attack in Destin near a Walton County campground on the Gulf of Mexico. The girl's identity was not released. But Walton County Sheriff's spokeswoman Donna Shank says the girl was from Gonzales, Louisiana.

Shank says two 14-year-old girls were swimming about 100 yards offshore when they noticed a dark shadow in the water. Shank says, "One of the swimmers was bitten. It was lower portions of her body." Both girls swam to the shore where the girl that was attacked was treated. Shank says the girl was transported to the Sacred Heart Hospital in South Walton where she was pronounced dead.

About 21 miles of area beaches were closed to swimmers immediately afterward. They will be closed for the rest of the day.The attack happened near Camping on the Gulf Holiday Travel Park in Walton County. Patrick O'Neill, the campground's general manager, refused to comment. Mike McKee, front desk supervisor at the Hilton Sandestin Beach Resort and Spa, said this is the time of year when area hotels are booked to capacity.

Florida had the largest number of documented shark attacks worldwide in 2003 with 31.

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