Kiteboarder killed in rare shark attack in Fla.

STUART, Fla. (AP) — A man who died in a shark attack while kiteboarding off South Florida’s Atlantic coast was experienced on the water and usually went out with a buddy, his friend said today.

Stephen Howard Schafer, 38, was the first person killed in a shark attack in Florida in five years, experts said.

A lifeguard spotted Schafer in distress about 500 yards off the beach Wednesday about 100 miles north of Miami. When the lifeguard paddled out on a large surfboard, he found Schafer bleeding and surrounded by several sharks. The lifeguard put Schafer on his board and paddled him back to the beach.

Schafer was taken to a hospital and died a short time later.