North Carolina Shark Attack Victim Is Teen Boy From Colorado Springs
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (CBS4) - A teenage boy badly injured in a shark attack is from Colorado Springs. He's one of two young victims of shark attacks in North Carolina.
A witness to one of the shark attacks described it as "nightmarish." The attacks both happened Sunday in Oak Island, North Carolina. The city manager there calls the incidents highly unusual for that area.
It's the start of the summer season for the tiny coastal resort, but a day at the beach was interrupted by screams for help. The first victim was a 12-year-old girl. She was bleeding heavily. She lost a hand and was severely bitten on her left leg.
About 90 minutes later and two miles away on the same stretch of beach, a 16-year-old boy from Colorado Springs, Hunter Treschl, was attacked.
"Blood in the water coming over with the whitewash, the kid was in shock. He was still coherent … took it clean off," witness Jason Hunter said.
Treschl lost his left arm.
It's unclear if the same shark is to blame for both incidents. Emergency crews credit other beachgoers with saving the victims' lives.
"Our bystanders that were on the beach with both of these patients did very quick first aid the correct way," said Brian Watts, Emergency Services Director.
Last Thursday, 30 miles away on a beach in the same county, a 13-year-old girl was also attacked by a shark.
"Definitely surreal. I just hoped she had both her legs. Like I felt so bad for her because she was so young," witness Alexa Whittemore said.
The teen suffered minor cuts to her foot and her boogey board got the worst of it.
The surgeon who operated on both victims said Monday that Treschl was awake and talking to doctors. He's in good condition. It's expected the teen will be at the hospital for several more days.
In a statement, the Treschl's mother thanked everyone who has cared for her son.
The girl's family declined to release any updates.
