Shark attacks teen off Texas coast
RELATEDYOUR E-MAIL ALERTS(CNN) -- A shark attacked a 14-year-old North Carolina girl in waters off the Texas coast near Galveston on Wednesday, ripping tendons in her left foot and leaving several teeth imbedded in her tissue. The teen, Lydia Paulk, was taken to the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, where she was in fair condition after surgery, said hospital spokeswoman Jeanette Pretorius. Paulk was attacked in waist-deep water while swimming with family and friends, said her aunt, Kit Marshall. "She was awake when she came into the emergency room," said Dr. Kelly Carmichael, an orthopedic surgeon. "Prior to her surgery and afterward, she was awake and talking." A second, follow-up surgery is scheduled for Friday. The shark, which escaped, was about 5 feet long, Marshall said. The Galveston County Sheriff's Office said the shark may have been feeding when the attack occurred. Marshall, of Aledo, Texas, said her sister and Paulk were holding on to either end of a rubber boat -- with Paulk closest to shore -- when the shark swam by and grabbed the foot. "My sister saw the shark coming," said Marshall, who was in the boat with a younger niece. "It all just happened really pretty quick. She knew immediately what was happening because she saw the tail start wiggling." Marshall said her sister beat the water to in an effort to scare the shark away. Paulk's family lives near Charlotte, North Carolina. Marshall said she doubts the incident will prevent the group from gathering on the bay again. "I suspect that we will be back at the beach next year."
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