According to National Geographic, surfers account for approximately half of all unprovoked shark attacks. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. In 2012, he won a bronze medal in the Men's 100m Butterfly at the Paralympics in London. "These type of things don't happen a lot, so go out and have fun," Winter told ABC11's Steve Daniels. Thomas Smiley, 65, a retired optometrist from Northern California, died after a shark attack off the Maui coast in May 2019. Ocearch founder Chris Fischer told "CBS This Morning," "It's very common this time of year between Florida and the Carolinas to have these sorts of incidents.". NEW BERN, N.C. -- A 19-year-old who survived a shark attack on the North Carolina coast will be featured in National Geographic's ninth annual SharkFest. "Despite this unfortunate circumstance, Paige is an unwavering advocate for the marine life and the animals who live in the water. NEW BERN, N.C. -- A 19-year-old who survived a shark attack on the North Carolina coast will be featured in National Geographic's ninth annual SharkFest. Less than 90 minutes later, a teenage boy also was severely injured nearby. Paige Winter she/her. Winter, who was 17 when she lost her leg in the attack, talks about the dramatic rescue and incredible ups and downs in "Shark Attack: The Paige Winter Story," which airs tonight on. Horton eventually managed to jam a knuckle into the shark's eye and was able to retreat to safety. Both her hands were mauled trying to pry open the shark's jaws. But even more rare is Paige's attitude: no screaming, no crying and no self-pity. Australian diver Greg Pickering has the unlucky distinction of being mauled by a shark two times in nine years. Due to the severity of the attack and the injuries she received, Winter's left leg was amputated above the knee. "I love nurse sharks so much. 4 "I think once I get more used to my prosthetic leg and gain more skills with it, I'd be super open to go and actually touch a shark.". He was swimming directly in front of the lifeguard stand, about 30 feet offshore. Despite this unfortunate circumstance, Paige is an unwavering advocate for the marine life and the animals who live in the water. "Like I didn't want to die. Here's a photo of the aftermath of the mauling. Paige Winters life for the past one year has been chronicled in this event special program by Robin Roberts where the hostess interviews the extraordinarily brave girl who did not give up on life even in the face of excruciating pain and disabilities. After a month in the hospital, Winter's friends threw her a homecoming celebration at the New Bern restaurant where she used to work. "He said we are going to check in every so often and talk about what we're going to do because I can tell he's all for this," she said. She is seen in good spirits even while undergoing physical therapy and accepting her new normal. In June 2015, a 12-year-old boy was bitten on the legs while swimming off the Isle of Palms, northeast of Charleston, South Carolina. "I saw my future flash before my eyes, and all the things I wanted to do, and that's why I got out of there.". Local officials caught and killed a 15-foot shark soon after, but weren't sure if it was the same one that killed Gerring. 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 statement reads, according to ABC News. It's been a turbulent and trying year for the young girl, who would normally be starting a life of her own. In a trailer for the special, Paige is seen being announced as a homecoming queen candidate at New Bern High School and undergoing physical therapy. Ironically, she is also considering Marine Biology and plans to move out to pursue it. Both recovered. BREAKING NEWS Benedict XVI, first pope to resign in 600 years, dies at 95 Full Story Unprovoked shark attacks like this are rare. "It's going to be pretty rigorous.". The teen also revealed that she has even become a shark superfan having plastered her wall with sharks pics and collected marina inspired memorabilia. Surfer Bethany Hamilton lost her left arm in a 2003 shark attack, but that didn't stop her from returning to the sport she loves. If Rocha's leg is any indication, it's sizable. Police responded to the incident at Atlantic Beach around noon and found the victim suffering deep lacerations to her leg, pelvic, and hand areas, a spokesperson for the Atlantic Beach Fire Department tells PEOPLE in a statement. A North Carolina teen who lost her leg in a shark attack Sunday is recovering in good health, in part thanks to her father, a paramedic who helped her escape the animal's jaws. June 14, 2019 / 6:45 PM Charlie put in a great deal of effort to pull her out of its tough grip and bring her to the shore. "I'm still Paige-y, just a little different. It helps the Winter family tries to find out if there was any reason why Paige was targeted. Due to the severity of the attack, amputation of the left leg above the knee was inevitable., A department spokesperson says that although authorities are not yet able to confirm a shark was involved, the injuries are consistent with the severity of a shark bite., One witness, Lacy Whorton, told NBC News that everybody started screaming when the attack happened, and lifeguards quickly pulled Winter from the water. Paige Winter, of New Bern, North Carolina, was just 17 years old when she lost her left leg and two fingers following a shark attack in Atlantic Beach in 2019. Documentary Paige Winter lost a leg and part of her hand to a shark when she was 17 and experts investigate her attack to determine what kind of shark was the responsible and how to avoid it in the future. HAVELOCK, N.C. On June 2, 2019, Paige Winter was just 17 years old when she lost her left leg and two of her fingers in a shark attack off the North Carolina coast. Despite the similarities in their injuries, however, experts do not believe the teenagers were attacked by the same shark. "The shark took her leg. He suffered serious injuries to both his legs but survived. "I want people to see I'm doing alright and you know, I'm still going to do the stuff they can do. At first, she thought that someone was playing a prank on her but only seconds later, the terrifying realization dawned upon her. Her left leg had to be amputated, thigh-high. Information about your device and internet connection, like your IP address, Browsing and search activity while using Yahoo websites and apps. "I'm not really able to do all of the things that I used to do," Paige told ABC's Robin Roberts in a special set to air Thursday night. In April 2015, a 13-year-old boy was killed by a shark on a beach western coast of the French Indian Ocean island of Reunion. In 2006, Achmat Hassiem was attacked by a great white shark during a lifeguard exercise off the coast of Cape Town, South Africa. A shark violently pulled 17-year-old Paige Winter under as she waded in waist-deep water at a North Carolina beach on June 2, 2019. On September 20, 2015, 27-year-old Braxton Rocha was attacked by a 13-foot tiger shark while spearfishing off Hawaii's Big Island. The ocean breathes salty "Sharks are still good people." That's the message Paige Winter is sharing while recovering from a recent shark bite: https://abc11.com/5346791/ A Craven County native, Paige Winter is now a senior year high schooler at New Bern High School. Scientists later confirmed that the shark, which attacked him off Truro, Massachusetts, was a great white, the first to be seen in that area since 1936. 39.2k Followers, 1,236 Following, 143 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Paige Winter (@probably.paige) probably.paige. Instead, she's dealt with the loss of her independence in some respects. Ive always been calm about the whole thing.. Both Winter and her father face their understandable fears about coming in close contact with sharks and meet their first shark since Winter's attack in the special. After repeatedly kicking the aggressive big fish, he tried to pull his girl up but the shark came right out with her leg still clenched between its deadly teeth. She was attacked off the North Carolina coast, and according to a family Facebook post, Winter's father, Charlie, " punched. In fact, Downey Jr. invited Winter to be part of his new sustainability initiative. Her love life seems on a high note as she regularly posts pictures of her boyfriend, Cameron, and her Instagram bio shows a ring along with his name. Her father, who was exiting the ocean at the time, rushed back into the water, punched the shark, freed his daughter and brought her back to the shore. This surfer was killed by a shark on the French island of Reunion in 2013, while his wife sunned on the beach nearby. Mark Strassmann has been a CBS News correspondent since January 2001 and is based in the Atlanta bureau. I have a shark blanket, shark signs on the walls. In July 2018, two children were bitten on the same stretch of Fire Island shoreline, about four miles apart. Even after everything she has endured, Winter has remained a fierce advocate for sharks and conserving shark species. 1,236 following. Winter is now undergoing several types of aggressive physical therapy every day. "The only thing is either fight or flight," he told CBS Newsin October 2013. / CBS News. As long as you don't beat yourself down, and it's okay to have bad days, but as long as you don't beat yourself down into a hole, you'll overcome," Winter said on facing setbacks in life. Paige Winter, 17, was swimming at the Fort Macon State Park in North Carolina on Sunday when she was bitten by the predator. Fort Macon State Park ranger Paul Terry tells WCTI-TV. 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The 17-year-oldsuffered severe injuries from the attack earlier this month at North Carolina's Fort Macon State Park. But Paige was the real fighter. She was bitten on her shoulder and upper torso, her wounds ultimately stretching from shoulder to pelvis. The boy was reportedly playing in the water with a cousin about 15 feet out, when the shark attacked. In April 2017, Adrien Dubosc, 30, was killed by a shark on the same island. A 17-year-old girl is in recovery after surviving a horrific shark attack at a North Carolina beach on Sunday, in an incident her loved ones say could cost the teen one of her legs. She was attacked off the North Carolina coast, and according to a family Facebook post, Winter's father, Charlie, "punched the shark in the face five times before it let go.". Paige Winter,. Officials with New Bern High School where Winter is a junior sent well-wishes to the teen in a Facebook statement. Her struggles are shown as well, but she keeps a good perspective. 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