Navy base employee hospitalized after being bitten by shark on his lunch break

PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WJHG/Gray News) - A Navy base employee was critically injured after being bitten by a shark on Monday morning.

Officials say the worker from the Naval Support Activity Panama City was swimming near the marina during his lunch break with a colleague when the bite occurred.

Tristan Oliveria, a commanding officer at the base, said the victim has injuries on both arms, with the second person not being injured.

NSA Panama City Fire and Emergency Services took the man to HCA Gulf Coast Hospital, where he was rushed into surgery.

The Bay County Sheriff’s Office, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and NOAA officials are investigating.

Oliveria says the man injured is in his late 20s and has been at the Navy base for four years.

“Our prayers and thoughts go out to the family, and we want to send our appreciation to the first responders who rendered initial aid,” Oliveri said. “We continue to have the safety of all our personnel paramount in all the operations we do on base.”