A man was attacked by a shark on Wednesday near Ocracoke Island in North Carolina, the seventh reported attack in the state since May.
The man was swimming in front of a lifeguard stand when he was pulled under water by a seven foot shark, FOX8 reports. He was able to swim out of the water and to safety, but is currently suffering from injuries to his rib cage, hip, hands and lower leg.
The new attack is now the seventh reported in North Carolina in just June and July. South Carolina has also been experiencing recent shark attacks.
Some experts say warmer water temperatures may be a contributing factor to the increase.
More Must-Reads From TIME
- What Student Photojournalists Saw at the Campus Protests
- How Far Trump Would Go
- Why Maternity Care Is Underpaid
- Saving Seconds Is Better Than Hours
- Welcome to the Golden Age of Ryan Gosling
- Scientists Are Finding Out Just How Toxic Your Stuff Is
- The 100 Most Influential People of 2024
- Want Weekly Recs on What to Watch, Read, and More? Sign Up for Worth Your Time
Contact us at letters@time.com