Walton County Florida officials are patrolling the shoreline and urging beachgoers to use caution while in the water following two shark attacks Friday that injured three females, including two teens from Mountain Brook.

Officials this morning posted an update following the attack. A woman and one of the teens were critically injured. One of the teens suffered minor injuries.

Mountain Brook City Manager Sam Gaston told AL.com that the two the teens who were injured are from Mountain Brook.

South Walton Fire District lifeguards have erected red and purple flags this morning as a visible warning of caution.

“It is important to us that beach patrons recognize and understand the risk of the open water as it pertains not just to surf hazards, but marine life,” officials wrote on the district’s X account this morning. “Will have a boat in the Gulf and will be monitoring the shoreline throughout the day. We ask beachgoers to be aware of their surroundings and remember we are guests in the Gulf. Stay vigilant.”

The first attack occurred around 1:20 p.m. Friday when a 45-year old woman was bitten by a shark as she was swimming past near Water Sound Beach.

She suffered critical injuries on her hip and lower left arm and was airlifted to an area trauma hospital.

The second incident took place near Seacrest Beach less than two hours later and four miles east of the first incident. Officials said it involved two female patients who are about 15 years old. According to witnesses, the females were in waist deep water with a group of friends when the incident occurred.

Saturday morning, Walton County deputies reported spotting from a boat a 14-foot hammerhead shark east of South County Highway 395 in Santa Rosa Beach. They stressed that the sighting was not uncommon.

“We want to reiterate that sharks are always present in the Gulf,” the Walton County sheriff’s department said in a post on X. “Swimmers and beachgoers should be cautious when swimming and stay aware of their surroundings.”