Girl, 17, survives shark attack in Florida

DELAND, Fla., March 20 (UPI) -- A 17-year-old girl suffered minor injuries when she became the first shark attack victim in Volusia County, Fla., in 2009, an official says.

Volusia County Beach Patrol Capt. Scott Petersohn said the teenage shark victim had been surfing near Ponce de Leon Inlet's south jetty when the attack occurred, the Daytona (Fla.) News-Journal said Friday.

"This is where all the surfers go for the best waves, and this is where all the bites occur," Petersohn said.

The beach patrol official said the teen was barely hurt in Wednesday's attack.

"It was a three-Band-Aid shark bite," he said.

The News-Journal said Volusia County had the most shark attacks since 2001 last year with 24 reported attacks.

Petersohn told the newspaper that next month could spell trouble for area swimmers because April typically has ideal conditions for shark attacks.