Experts narrow down shark that bit teen

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) - Local shark experts believe the surfer attacked by an animal in the water in the Sandbridge area of Virginia Beach last week could have been attacked by more than one shark.

Caleb Kauchak, 18, never saw what bit him but he thought it was a shark.

"I looked down and I, the only thing I see, I can't even see the cuts. I just see blood pouring down my leg..." said Kauchak.

Kauchak had severe cuts on his left ankle and knee, and lost a lot of blood. There was speculation that the surfer's wounds may have been caused by a Blue Fish .

However on Tuesday, local shark experts said they are almost certain that it was a shark, maybe even two, that attacked.

Dr. Jack Music, Professor Emeritus at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) in Gloucester, has been studying sharks for 40 years. In that time, he investigated all but one of the unprovoked shark attacks reported in Virginia Beach. Not only was Musick certain it was a shark that was involved in last week's attack, he's reasonably sure that a Black Tip or a Spinner shark bit the teen.

Musick said Black Tips and Spinners are common in the Sandbridge area during the summer.

"...Probably about the size of the one that may have been involved in this bite," said Musick.

Although the species rarely gets larger than about four feet long, it's bite can inflict a lot of damage to an arm or leg.

"[Their] teeth have fine cerations on the edges. A lot of the species do, and a lot of species will shake their prey," said Dr. Chip Cotton, also from the Virginia Institute of Marine Science.

"You pair that with the fact that they have very strong crushing bite force and our skin is very soft compared to a lot of prey," Cotton added.

Sharks have only preyed on humans in Virginia Beach four times in the last 40 years.

Kauchak is currently at home resting and is expected to make a full recovery.