By Erica Thomas, managing editor
PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. — Just days after a video of what appears to be a large shark in the Gulf of Mexico went viral, another possible sighting was captured on camera.
Tammy Simpson, of Wedowee, Alabama, was visiting Panama City Beach on Saturday, June 1, 2019, when she said she spotted a shark. Simpson was staying at Twin Palms, off Front Beach Road. She said it was about 8 a.m. and the shark was only around 125 yards from the beach.
Stan Battles was staying at the Tidewater Resort, on Wednesday, when he captured video of a shark. Tidewater is only seven miles down the coast from Twin Palms. In the video, you could see a woman swimming, not far from the beach, when a shark spotted her. The shark made a large circle around the swimmer and thankfully, she got away unharmed.
While it’s important to be aware of your surroundings, experts with the Florida Museum say you have a better chance of dying from a bee sting, a dog or snake bite, or lightning, than from a shark attack.
There is no way to know if the sharks spotted this week are the same shark, but swimmers should use extreme caution while visiting the beach this summer. Experts recommend you swim in groups and stay close to the shore. Also, don’t wear shiny jewelry and don’t go into the water if you’re bleeding. For more tips on how to avoid a shark attack, click here.