Expert: Great White Shark could have been behind fatal attack

WEST PALM BEACH-- Could a Great White Shark been behind the fatal attack of a kiteboarder Wednesday?

Palm Beach Atlantic University Biology Professor Gary Goss says shark attacks are extremely rare.

Even more rare, an attack by a Great White, the most feared beast of the ocean which can be 20 feet long and weigh up to 5000 pounds. That's more than a pick-up.

"Great whites in our area are very uncommon. They are mostly in deep waters where it's colder. There has never been an attack here by a white shark," said Goss.

Because of the severity of the wounds that killed the 38-year-old kite board surfer, some are speculating juvenile Great Whites which tend to be 6 to 8 feet long may have been in the area migrating through Florida's east coast during winter.

Could the shark have mistaken the kiteboard surfer for a sea turtle?

"That's the only situation where big sharks which hunt sea turtles could have mistaken it for a surfer. That's a white shark situation," added Goss.

The professor says the shark in this attack is most likely a bull shark, known for being aggressive.

Regardless what type of shark struck this time, experts say you are more likely to drown in the ocean from a rip current than die from a shark attack.