A shark bit a teenage boy when he was swimming in water that was only waist deep
The shark bit the 15-year-old's leg, the boy responded by beating the shark with both hands. The shark then landed a second bite on the teen's hand, according to CNN. The attack took place when the teen was at a beach near Surfside with his church group at about 2:45 p.m, the Huffington Post reported.
"I think he last time we had a shark bite was twenty years ago," Suandra Monnat, who was the first medic on the scene with Surfside Police Department and Emergency Medical Service told MYFOX Houston.
"I never worry about that in Texas," beachgoer Taylor Cervantes, 17 said. "I don't know. You don't hear about it often, but it's really scary."
The boy who was attacked is believed to be in stable condition at Houston Hospital.
"He was a trooper," Monnat said. "This kid felt the shark bite his calf and then literally grabbed the shark and tore it off of him, which is how he got the lacerations on his hand."
The entire police department was impressed with the way the boy handled the attack.
"He had to get it off him some way and that was probably the best way to do it," assistant Chief Gregg Bisso said. "The most serious injury we get down here is usually a jelly fish sting."
Even though sharks are not common in the area, Monnat gave some advice in light of the recent events.
"Try not to swim near fishermen," Monnat said. "That's one thing because they have all their bait around them, and if you see something suspicious get out of the water."
Bisso told NBC News there could be more danger of shark attacks right now because of "weather conditions or bait fish," the police are not calling for extra precautions as of this time.
There hasn't been a shark attack in the area for about 25 to 30 years.
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