New Smyrna Beach shark attack: Injured Florida surfer recovering after left arm bitten at “Shark Bite Capital of the World”

A Florida man was recently surfing at New Smyrna Beach located in the city of the same name; when a shark bit him, multiple outlets reported. Matthew Bender, who is from Winter Park went to surf on Sunday, July 6, 2025 and was attacked around 3:00 pm, the South Florida Sun Sentinel and WESH (channel 2) confirmed. 

According to Fox 35 Orlando (WOFL), the shark bite victim is recovering in the hospital after undergoing emergency surgery. The outlet confirmed that Bender was bitten on his left arm which was left gravely wounded “from below the thumb to near the elbow.” Fox 35 Orlando highlighted that Matthew was helped by nearby surfers at New Smyrna Beach. 

One of the other surfers reportedly used a surfboard leash as a tourniquet while the lifeguards responded quickly. According to different reports, Volusia County Beach Safety Ocean Rescue confirmed that Matthew Bender’s injuries following the New Smyrna Beach shark attack were non-life-threatening. However, the authorities have yet to reveal anything about the size or type of shark. 

While misinformation about the incident made its way to social media, Bender’s friends shared in a Facebook post on the Raw Surf page, 

“[H]is hand was NOT bitten off — he's doing good considering, but he was injured and needs our support and prayers right now.” 

Matthew “Matt” Bender thanked fellow surfer for helping after the New Smyrna Beach shark attack

As mentioned, the Winter Park man who got bitten by a shark on Sunday is making a recovery following surgery. On Tuesday, July 8, 2025, Bender took to his Instagram to thank Ava Lavender (@avalavender_) for her immediate help after the shark attack. In one of his Instagram Stories, Matt wrote, 

“Thank you so much Ava! @avalavender_ Ava was first on scene, and calmly gave me her leash off her board for a tourniquet. Her dad ran and called 9/11. Thank you heroes so much! God bless you!!” 

During a conversation with Fox 35 Orlando Matthew Bender recounted the sudden incident while surfing at New Smyrna Beach. He said, 

“I felt it clamp down like a bear trap out of nowhere. By the time I looked down, it was already gone. I never saw the shark, but it bit really forcefully. It felt like electricity and like extreme pressure. And then I think it shook its head. I definitely felt that as it was letting go. It was also fast.” 

Matthew shared that others at New Smyrna Beach stepped in to help him. He recalled, 

“I was squeezing the whole mangled area myself with my left hand, and they were pulling the tourniquet there just above my elbow.” 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Matt Bender (@matt_bender)

Remarking on his injuries being non-life-threatening, Matt described it as a miracle and claimed that it granted him a little break. He said, 

“I think the Lord kept it from being serious. I mean, he works in mysterious ways. For some reason, I got to take a little break, but I'll be back out there. I'm a New Smyrna surfer at heart, and it's not going to end now just because of this.” 

For the unversed, New Smyrna Beach is unofficially referred to as the “Shark Attack Capital of the World” or “Shark Bite Capital of the World.” According to the International Shark Attack File (maintained by the Florida Museum of Natural History) in 2024 Volusia County, where the beach is located reported more than half of Florida’s shark attacks. 

Based on the all-time statistics of ISAF, the country also leads the numbers across the globe. Since 1882, there have been more than 350 reports of unprovoked shark attacks in Volusia.