A North Carolina high school student underwent 14 hours of reconstructive hand surgery on Friday, following a vicious shark attack just days before that saw her lose several fingers and caused her leg to be amputated.
Paige Winter, 17, was said to be doing ‘extremely well’ after her latest surgery, doctors revealed to WITN-TV.
The teenager had been enjoying a day at the beach with her family in Fort Macon State Park, North Carolina, last Sunday when suddenly the day took a life-threatening turn.
Paige had been swimming close to the shoreline at 12:20pm when the horrific shark attack occurred, leaving her with deep lacerations to her leg, hands and pelvic area.
Her firefighter father Charlie heroically came to her aid and punched the shark five times in the nose to scare it away.
‘I want to thank everyone for all of the support and encouragement that is really helping me stay positive while I’m getting better,’ Winter said in a statement Friday.
Paige Winter, 17, lost her leg and sustained damage to her hand after she was attacked by a shark at Fort Macon State Park in North Carolina on Sunday at 12.20pm
Speaking out after her surgery she says: ‘I know I have a long road to recovery, which includes additional surgeries. I will continue to stay positive and be thankful that it was not worse’
Winter pictured above with her firefighter father Charlie who punched the shark five times in the nose to make it let go of his daughter
‘Although I have extensive injuries, including an amputated leg and damage to my hands, I will be okay,’ the New Bern teen and high school junior continued.
‘I know I have a long road to recovery, which includes additional surgeries. I will continue to stay positive and be thankful that it was not worse,’ she added, thanking the hospital for her care.
Paige will need to undergo at least one more reconstructive surgery, her family have revealed.
Vidant Health also released a statement saying Winter is in ‘good condition and receiving excellent care’.
‘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 said.
‘Despite this unfortunate circumstance, Paige is an unwavering advocate for the marine life and the animals who live in the water. She wishes for people to continue to respect sharks in their environment and their safety,’ it added.
A GoFundMe page set up to help cover Winter’s medical costs has now reached over a whopping $60,000 since it was launched on Monday afternoon.
Winter is out of surgery and according to her family is doing well and cracking jokes
Winter is being treated at Vidant Medical Center. The hospital announced she’s in ‘good condition and receiving excellent care’
‘Today, a family’s life changed in a matter of seconds. A family day spent at the beach ended with a horrific shark attack. A 17 year old girl would have her life completely turned upside down,’ the page said.
‘Due to the severity of the attack, amputation of the left leg above the knee was inevitable. As family friends, we sit here hoping we can do something that could bring just a tiny bit of relief that may assist with Paige’s road to recovery,’ it added.
An update on the page from Friday afternoon included a statement from Paige, which read: ‘I want to thank everyone for all of the support and encouragement that is really helping me stay positive while I’m getting better. It really means a lot!
‘World Oceans Day is June 8 and I’d like to ask everyone to get involved however they can to protect and preserve our oceans and all the life in it.
‘I can’t wait to thank you guys and join you in saving the environment. #SharksAreStillGoodPeople’
Winter’s grandmother also posted on Facebook Sunday evening saying Winter lost a leg above the knee in the surgery and may need a hand transplant in the future.
‘Thank God our son was with her he said he punched the shark in the face 5 times before it let go. Wish we could be with them,’ her grandmother Janet Winter posted on Facebook Sunday evening on her miraculous rescue.
Chad Morgan from Reel Faith Fishing Charters believes that on Friday he captured footage of a shark thrashing around in the water nearby where the girl was attacked on Sunday (scene of suspected shark above)
Despite the attack Winter’s mother says that the animal-loving teen still wants ‘everyone to know that sharks are still good people’
‘Surgery over she is still alive one leg gone. May need a hand transplant in the future and several on the other. Please keep her in your prayers,’ she updated her followers into the night.
According to social media, Winter is an avid animal lover and performed in her school’s musical Little Shop of Horrors. She’s a junior at New Bern High School.
Firefighters and ABFD paramedics responded to the area by the bathhouse at 12.19pm and immediately transported her to a waiting East Care Helicopter at Carteret Health Care.
‘All of a sudden, everyone started screaming, and I looked to my left and they were rushing towards this little girl. She looked little but she’s actually 17,’ witness Lacy Whorton said to WCTI.
‘And it looked like she was belly crawling on the beach and officials were running towards her and whistles were blowing and everyone was screaming and they quickly got everybody out of the water,’ she added.
Paige Winter was attacked swimming at Fort Macon State Park, North Carolina around noon
Her grandmother posted ‘she is still alive’ with ‘one leg gone’ and suffered injury to her hand
Her grandmother posted ‘she is still alive’ with ‘one leg gone’ and suffered injury to her hand
Grandmother Janet Winter said on Facebook: ‘Thank God our son was with her’
Update: She followed up Sunday evening saying Winter’s surgery was over and she lost a leg and may need a hand transplant in the future
Paige’s mother Marcy Winter posted later on Sunday: ‘Paige is out of surgery and awake, she’s still pretty groggy but cracking jokes. She wants everyone to know that sharks are still good people’
Fort Macon State Park police said rangers saw several sharks swimming close to the shore where Winter was attacked.
Atlantic Beach-goers also helped save her life according to the hospital where she was airlifted and treated.
Her mother Marcy Winter posted later on Sunday: ‘Paige is out of surgery and awake, she’s still pretty groggy but cracking jokes. She wants everyone to know that sharks are still good people.’
The parent used to be a Marine.
Chad Morgan from Reel Faith Fishing Charters believes that on Friday he captured footage a shark thrashing around in the water nearby where the girl was attacked on Sunday.
He added to WCTI that sharks are becoming a real problem in the area.
There have been 16 shark attacks in the United States this year so far, most of them have taken place in Florida.
Last Saturday a 65-year-old California man was fatally injured by a shark in Hawaii.
In 2018 there were 33 shark bites reported in the US.
Trackingsharks.com advises to avoid swimming in murky water, after storms, while wearing yellow or shiny jewelry. It also states sharks may be attracted to bright colored tattoos.
If attacked it recommends fighting back if possible. Attack the face by hitting, ripping, poking and tearing at the shark’s eyes and gills.