Shark Bites 7-Year-Old Girl While Swimming Off North Carolina Coastline

KEY POINTS

Based on the size of the girl's wound, the shark could be small
Beachgoers near the site of the incident were asked to get out of the water
No other shark sightings were reported on the day of the attack

A shark has bitten a 7-year-old girl while swimming off the coast of North Carolina.

The incident took place in Ocean Isle Beach at around 11 a.m. Sunday. Responders on the scene reported that based on its size and pattern, the girl's injury looked like a shark bite. The wound was described more as a graze than a severe bite.

The girl was taken to a hospital and received few stitches. She was released soon after.

It is unclear if the 7-year-old was accompanied by her parents in the water, town officials said.

"I heard she was quite brave," the New York Post quoted Mayor Debbie Smith as saying.

According to Smith, it was a busy day and she was on the beach a few miles away. She reportedly heard about the attack during an incoming dispatch call.

What species of shark bit the girl remains unknown. However, based on the size of the wound, it appeared to be "small."

"You should always be cautious when you're in the water at the beach and just use good common sense, and to be alert," Smith said. "But this is not a common occurrence."

Beachgoers near the site of the incident were asked to get out of the water. No other shark sightings were reported that day and the beach will remain open to the public, reported ABC News.

It has been several years since a shark attack was reported in Ocean Isle Beach, Smith added.

According to the Florida Museum of Natural History, the U.S. witnessed 33 unprovoked shark attacks in 2020, the highest in the world. The same report also listed North Carolina as the fourth state with the highest number of shark sightings and unprovoked attacks.

However, the total number of shark attacks remains extremely low in comparison to the number of people participating in aquatic recreation, the report said further.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) explained that sharks attack humans when they are confused or curious. "If a shark sees a human splashing in the water, it may try to investigate, leading to an accidental attack," NOAA said in a post.

Earlier this month, a surfer was hospitalized in serious condition after being bitten by a great white shark near the California coastline.