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Shark bite confirmed off North Carolina shore

By Amy R. Connolly and Danielle Haynes

OCRACOKE ISLAND, N.C., July 1 (UPI) -- A man in his late 60s swimming off North Carolina's Outer Banks was bitten by a shark and taken by helicopter to the hospital.

The man was bitten multiple times by a seven- to eight-foot gray shark while swimming about 30 feet offshore, Justin Gibbs, Hyde County emergency services director told WITN.

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Gibbs said lifeguards spotted the man being pulled under by the shark and called 911. The man was swimming outside the first breaker when the attack happened, Hyde County, N.C., Emergency Services said in a news release.

He was injured on his left abdominal area, hip and lower leg. He was also bitten on both hands. He was able to swim back to shore where he was attended by medics.

Emergency workers said the shark bite happened shortly after noon Wednesday. Investigators said the victim was bitten by "marine life."

"EMS stabilized the man's blood pressure and were able to get him in a stable, conscious, and oriented condition prior to medical transport," the release said. "The man was flown to Vidant Medical Center in Greenville, N.C., for further medical treatment."

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The incident marks the seventh shark bite on North Carolina beaches in June and July.

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