14 DAY TRIAL // A 15-year-old student has been bitten by a shark off Surfside beach in Texas on Monday afternoon, June 17. He managed to fight off the shark and survived the incident.
According to KHOU, the young boy has suffered severe damage to his hand and one of his legs. The shark bit off part off his calf which has been removed completely.
Garrett Sebesta was swimming in waist-deep water when the shark charged him.
He was at the beach in Brazoria County, some 60 miles (96 km) south of Houston, with a group of friends from the local church.
He first felt the shark grabbing on to his leg at roughly 2:45 p.m. When he reached to push it away, it bit his hand, leaving him with serious nerve damage.
He did manage to push it away, hitting its head and getting out of the water with the help of his group.
Medical emergency crews were called at the scene and Sebesta was airlifted to a hospital in Houston by a Life Flight helicopter ambulance, the Houston Chronicle informs.
He underwent a surgical intervention on Monday night, upon his arrival at the clinic.
"He was alert and oriented," describes Surfside assistant police chief Gregg Bisso.
He is currently in stable condition, and he is being treated from life-threatening injuries at Memorial Hermann-The Texas Medical Center.
"He’s gonna be good. Strong kid," paramedic Z.W. Monnat notes.
"Kudos to the victim ‘cause he felt the shark bite, and then he literally tore the shark off of him," he says.
According to witness Billy Cornelius, Sebesta did not lose consciousness after being wounded.
"He didn't look like he was in any pain when they were taking him on the stretcher to Life Flight. [...] He was looking around," Cornelius describes.