Florida firefighter Attacked in “Shark Bite Capital of the World”

A Florida firefighter had the kind of day that most of us would call an absolute nightmare. According to FOX35, CJ Lyles was surfing at New Smyrna Beach, when he found himself in the jaws of a shark! The shark had bitten his hand, and blood was pouring everywhere. The dude didn’t panic, though. Instead, he hopped in his car and drove himself home. Talk about being calm and collected! Don't worry, CJ's girlfriend was there at the house ready to take him to the hospital.

Lyles, a 31-year-old paramedic and driver engineer, was just out there trying to catch some waves when a shark decided to catch him! He says the shark came out of nowhere and gave his hand a taste test. Lyles felt those razor-sharp teeth and knew right away he was in trouble. When the Florida firefighter looked down and saw the damage, it was clear this wasn’t a 'throw a band-aid on it' kind of situation.

Once he got to the hospital, doctors had to patch up two torn tendons in his left index finger and a lightly torn tendon in his middle finger. Lyles got the medical attention he needed, but you’d think after something like this, the guy would hang up his surfboard for good, right? Not even close. The Florida firefighter is already talking about getting back out there once his hand heals.

Sure, New Smyrna Beach might be known as the “Shark Bite Capital of the World,” but Lyles isn’t letting that stop him. He figures this was just one of those freak accidents. It’s not every day a shark decides to take a bite out of you, so why let it ruin the fun?

In a few weeks, Lyles will probably be back in the water, keeping an eye out for sharks but not letting fear take over. After all, the ocean is his playground, and one unlucky encounter isn’t enough to keep this Florida firefighter out of the game.

The 2024 Travelers' Choice® Awards Best of the Best Things to Do list is out and there's a reason why so many people vacation in Florida. 25 of the most loved top attractions in the US made the list, highlighting the highest rated experiences and attractions around the world and in the US based on Tripadvisor reviews. 

What's number one? The Empire State Building in New York City climbed to the top as the No. 1 attraction, not just in the US, but globally. Reviewers are wowed by the 360-degree view of New York, where they can point out all of their favorite landmarks and see up to six states on a clear day. Over 300 reviews deem it a "once in a lifetime" experience and more than 8,000 5-star reviews put this tourist spot on top. Another New York iconic spot also made the top 3 top attractions in the US list.

Kristen Dalton, President of Tripadvisor states "Experiences make a trip, and our Best of the Best Things to Do Awards offer some of the highest-rated activities from across the world, highlighted by our community of travelers. Whether you're a thrill seeker or a leisurely explorer, the 'Best of the Best' badge has the seal of approval from global travelers as a source of inspiration for an unforgettable vacation."

Florida still maintains itself as a major tourist destination with 3 of the top attractions in the US being here in the Sunshine State. As a 20 year resident of Florida, I love doing touristy things, but I'm kind of disappointed in myself. I've not been to any of these 3 attractions. Yet.

Scuba diving or snorkeling is the best way to view this park, but glass bottom boat tours are also available. TripAdvisor has this park, located in Key Largo, as the 4th best attraction in the United States. So what makes it so special?

In 1960 the John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park was named the United States' first undersea park. The Florida Keys have the only living coral reef in the continental United States. The in 1965, it got much more interesting.

On August 25th, 1965 the Christ of the Abyss was lowered into the water at a depth of 25 feet. The bronze statue still rests there with the top at a depth of 8-10 feet below the surface. Visible to snorkelers, but best viewed with SCUBA gear.

We didn't have to go very far down the list to find the next Florida entry. The Stetson Mansion is listed as the 5th best top attraction in the US.

The Stetson Mansion is in Deland, Florida, just off I4 between Orlando and Daytona Beach. It's referred to as "Florida's first luxury estate". Built in 1886 the mansion is actually older than the city of Miami. And if you're wondering why the name "Stetson" sounds familiar, the mansion was built for famed hat maker John B. Stetson.

The mansion is not currently open for tours, but Christmas Tours are offered 2-7 times daily Nov 1st, 2024 - Jan 18th, 2025. I'm hearing Christmas is the best time to visit, so this might be something to put on your bucket list.

Another Florida keys attraction, this one further down in Key West, is not a museum, but a living exhibit. Their website sums it up "Take a walk among hundreds of free flying butterflies, exotic birds and 2 glorious flamingos inside the soaring glass-domed tropical butterfly habitat."

Let one of their guides teach you about nature, pointing out the different butterflies and colorful flowers. When you're done, don't forget to hit up the gift shop.

See the top 25 Best of the Best Attractions in the US here