COCOA BEACH, Fla. – A man was attacked by a shark off the coast of a Brevard County beach on Tuesday afternoon.
Brevard County Ocean Rescue said the shark bite occurred at Shepard Park in Cocoa Beach just after 3:30 p.m. while the man was swimming off the beach in a few feet of water.
The 42-year-old man visiting from Germany was rescued and suffered a 4-inch bite with puncture marks on his foot.
"He came out of the water just between me and my brother and he was very pale in his face and had that shock in his eyes," said witness Oscar Mofjell, who was one of the first men to help him.
The man was taken to Cape Canaveral Hospital.
Jeff Scabarozi, Brevard County Ocean Rescue chief, said lifeguards flew double-red flags and closed the Shepard Park beach to swimmers after the attack. He speculated that the shark may have been three to four feet long.
Crews reopened the beach just after 5 p.m.
Check back for more on this developing story.