Florida has seen a spate of shark attacks in recent months so beachgoers were alarmed when they saw the fins poking through the surf yards off the popular spring break destination of Daytona Beach
Natalie Branda was left with a gruesome bite mark that needed 14 stitiches after the attack near St Pete's Pier near St Petersburg off Florida's Gult Coast.
Natalie Branda (pictured), 26, was swimming close to her home city of Saint Petersburg on July 29 when she was bitten by what medics believe was an adult bull shark.
A 26-year-old woman was bitten on the upper thigh while swimming off the Gulf Coast on a boat with friends last weekend. She received 14 stitches and is recovering.