Teenager hits shark to escape attack on Texas beach

A 19-year-old girl was swimming on a Texas beach with her siblings when a shark bit her hand. Luckily, she hit the shark and scared it away.

Damiana Humphrey, of Oklahoma, was at a beach near Galveston when her sister-in-law said she saw something in the water around 7:30 p.m. Moments later, the shark attacked Humphrey.

“As I was turning around, a shark grabbed my hand,” Humphrey told FOX26 Houston. “I looked down and there was a shark attached to my hand, so I guess I started punching it. This part is a little unclear to me.

The shark then swam away and Humphrey and his siblings rushed to shore, where his parents called 911. Paramedics then arrived.

“The first question I asked the paramedics was if my fingers were still there,” Humphrey told the Houston Chronicle. “I haven't looked at the injury yet because I couldn't. She convinced me they were still there and then I asked her if they should cut off my hand because I didn't know at the time how bad it was. And she says, “No, you should have your hand.” » I was like, “Okay.” And then it calmed me down.

Humphrey had four severed tendons in his hand and underwent surgery and is expected to make a full recovery.

She won't be able to move her hand for four to six weeks and will need physical therapy.

According to the Chronicle, shark attacks are rare off the coast of Texas. Since 1911, there have been only 19 shark attacks in Galveston County. Usually, sharks mistake a human for prey, but then let them go.