A 13-year-old girl and a 16-year-old boy both lost limbs and were severely injured in two separate shark attacks on same beach in Oak Island, N.C., officials said Sunday.
"One of the things we hope we never have to hear from a beach community; the shark bite victim is a teenage girl," Oak Island Mayor Betty Wallace confirmed on Facebook.
The girl lost part of her left arm and might lose her left leg, and the boy lost his left arm, Wallace said.
The girl was on vacation with her family. "She and her family are not residents, but relatives of theirs are OKI residents. Please keep this girl and her family in your prayers," Wallace further wrote on her Facebook wall.
Oak Island Fire Chief Chris Anselmo said the girl was attacked around 4:40 p.m., and the boy was attacked around 5:51 p.m. just a couple of miles from where the first attack took place, according to NBC News.
"I saw someone carry this girl [out of the water] and people were swarming around and trying to help. It was quite terrible," witness Steve Bouser told the Associated Press.
"His arm was clean off," Jason Hunter, who was on the beach where the boy was attacked, told WWAY.
Both victims were airlifted to New Haven Regional Medical Center in Wilmington. Sunday night, local emergency officials said both victims arrived in critical condition, but are now in fair condition, according to Star News Online.
Oak Island officials ordered everyone to stay out of the water after the attacks.
"Oak Island is still a safe place. This is highly unusual," Oak Island Town Manager Tim Holloman said while informing people that the beach would be open Monday, according to NBC.
The two shark attacks happened just three days after a 13-year-old girl had a similar attack at Brunswick County Island. The teen suffered a cut on her leg.
