October 8, 2000

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- A swimmer and a surfer suffered minor injuries when they were bitten by sharks in separate attacks.

Taylor Holley, 11, of DeBary was bitten twice on the right foot as he swam Friday afternoon with his father and his sister. He received 28 stitches to his heel.

Cy Holley, the boy's father, said they were standing in the water watching a large school of fish pass when Taylor was bitten.

"I thought one of the fish had finned him, but he knew what it was," Holley said. Two hours later, Austin White, 23, of Apopka was surfing when a 2-foot shark bit his right hand, damaging tendons. He may require surgery.

It was the 12th shark attack in Volusia County this year, and there have been more than 20 statewide, including one fatal attack on the Gulf Coast. New Smyrna Beach is about 15 miles south of Daytona Beach on the Atlantic coast.

"We knew there were a lot of shark bites here, but he has lived near the beach all his life and he has never had a problem," said Jackie Singerland, his girlfriend.

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