A 17-year-old girl is lucky to be alive after a shark attack off North Carolina—and it looks like she has her dad to thank. Per the BBC, officials say Paige Winter, who was ambushed by the shark Sunday at Atlantic Beach, lost some fingers and her left leg all the way above her knee, but things could've been a lot worse had her father, firefighter and paramedic Charlie Winter, not been there to take care of business. In a Facebook post, Janet Winter, who identifies herself as Paige's grandmother, comments, "Thank God our son was with her he said he punched the shark in the face 5 times before it let go." A family friend confirmed to Today that "Charlie wouldn't stop" hitting the shark on its nose "until it released his little girl."
The hospital where Paige is recuperating says she's in good condition. On a GoFundMe, which as of Tuesday morning had raised more than $28,000 to go toward Paige's recovery, a statement from her family notes they "[express] their appreciation for the first responders, the individuals on the beach who helped, and her heroic father who saved her life." Paige also provided her own personal update, noting, "Although I have extensive injuries, including an amputated leg and damage to my hands, I will be OK. ... I will continue to stay positive and be thankful that it was not worse." (This Cape Cod shark attack survivor punched his attacker right in the gills.)
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