A Texas teenager is in stable condition after being attacked by a shark Monday afternoon as he swam in waist-deep water at Surfside Beach, along Texas's Gulf coast.

KHOU in Houston reports that 15-year-old Garrett Sebesta started beating the shark with both hands after it had bitten his lower left leg. The shark then bit the teen on the left hand before kids from his church group, who were in the water with him, came to his aid.

Sebesta was flown to Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center in Houston where he is being treated for severe nerve damage in his hand. His mom also told KHOU 11 that her son has a big chunk of his calf his missing.

While it wasn't immediately clear what type of shark attacked the teen, Surfside Assistant Police Chief Gregg Bisso told CNN that there haven't been any shark attacks along Surfside Beach city limits, a 5-mile long barrier island, in 25 years. Brazoria County, which includes Surfside Beach, has had at least two attacks in the past four years, though.

Surfside Beach is located about 60 miles south of Houston.

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