MYRTLE BEACH Beaches have reopened after beachgoers were stranded on the sand for about two hours Thursday afternoon when four people said they were bitten by sharks.

The bites were reported over a 10-minute span between 72nd Avenue North and 82nd Avenue North, but police have not confirmed if a shark is to blame, and experts say its unusual to have so many bites on the Grand Strand in the early afternoon. Swimming wasnt allowed as a precaution while Myrtle Beach police investigated.

Myrtle Beach police took photos of the injuries and are planning to send them to the University of Florida for a research team to review them to determine what kind of marine animal was involved, Capt. David Knipes said Friday.

Video from around the world

A lifeguard on duty was more certain about what caused the bites, even though he didnt see anything in the ocean.

Nobody saw them, said lifeguard Denny Starr. Even the guys that got bit didnt see it. Theyre definitely shark bites. One guys foot was opened up. The other had a full mouth print around his leg.

Starr was on duty around 76th Avenue North around 1:20 p.m. when the bites were reported and didnt see the other injuries.

Three people were taken by EMS to Grand Strand Regional Medical Center. The fourth drove himself.

Its not likely the same animal bit all four people, according to marine science professor and local shark expert Dan Abel. Without seeing pictures of the bite marks he couldnt say for sure what kind of shark it may have been, but said black tip sharks are most probable in this instance.

The likelihood of anything else being around and biting is not real high, Abel said. ... it was probably black tip sharks inshore feeding and mistaking people.

Here is the original post:

Grand Strand beaches reopen after suspected shark bites