Shark Bites Teen’s Leg, Hand, Girl’s Father Punches Predator To Save Her

A 17-year-old girl lost chunks of leg and a few of her fingers after being attacked by a shark, Sunday, at Fort Macon State Park, North Carolina. The Atlantic Beach Fire Department (ABFD) confirmed that firefighters and paramedics responded to the reports of a teenager sustaining injuries to her “leg and hands from a marine animal bite.”

“ABFD Paramedics immediately transported the patient to an awaiting East Care Helicopter at Carteret Health Care where she was flown to Vidant Medical Center. The patient sustained deep lacerations to her leg, pelvic, and hand areas. ABFD cannot confirm what type of marine life was involved until further information is received from specialists and marine biologists,” the department said in a statement Sunday.

The Vidant Medical Center, where the teenager was air-lifted to for treatment, identified the victim as Paige Winter from New Bern.

“Vidant Health can confirm that Paige Winter is at Vidant Medical Center in Greenville, North Carolina, recovering from a shark attack that occurred at approximately 12:20 p.m. EDT, June 2, 2019, at Fort Macon. She is in good condition and receiving excellent care. Her family expresses their appreciation for the first responders, the individuals on the beach who helped and her heroic father who saved her life,” the hospital said in a statement.

One of the people who had a big hand in saving Winter was her father, who works for the City of Havelock Fire-Rescue Department. Park ranger Paul Terry told ABC-affiliated WCTI-TV that the girl was swimming with her father at the time of the incident and her grandmother said he “punched the shark in the face five times before it let go.”

Her grandmother added that “Winter is still alive” although with “one leg gone” and “may need a hand transplant in the future and several on the other.”

The teenager’s mother, Marcy Winter, took to Facebook, to post an update regarding her daughter’s condition. “Paige is out of surgery and awake, she’s still pretty groggy but cracking jokes. She wants everyone to know that sharks are still good people,” she wrote.

The victim’s love for sharks was echoed in the hospital’s statement. “Despite this unfortunate circumstance, Paige is an unwavering advocate for the marine life and the animals who live in the water. She wishes for people to continue to respect sharks in their environment and their safety,” the statement said.

According to Daily Mail, there have been 16 shark attacks in the United States this year so far and most of them have taken place in Florida.