But it was the deadliest year since 2013, with 10 unprovoked bites resulting in fatalities, a stark departure from the average of four per year. In contrast, nine incidents were unconfirmed in 2019 and nine were confirmed as shark bites but could not be classified. Of the remaining deaths, two were the result of tiger shark bites, including the fatality in Hawaii, and two could not be identified to species. “A blacktip can give you four stitches while a nibble from a white shark can remove your leg,” he said. They cited examples of drone footage showing sharks, including white sharks, approaching and circling surfers and swimmers before jetting in the opposite direction.