West Virginia teen recovering after shark bite at North Carolina beach

NORTH TOPSAIL BEACH, N.C. (WNCT) — A 14-year-old boy from West Virginia is recovering after he was bit by a shark over the weekend in North Topsail Beach.

Police say it happened Sunday afternoon near Beach Access number four. The teenager was taken to a local hospital. Officials said there was no report of seeing the shark.

Blayne Brown is from West Virginia and was visiting the area when the attack happened. He was at North Topsail Beach’s Access No. 4 at around 12:30 p.m. on Sunday. Brown said a friend who was in the water with him took off and, before he could figure out why, a shark bit him twice on his leg and ankle.

“So she ran away, then like right after she just ran away, I think it just bit me. Then I had to walk out of the ocean all by myself,” Brown said.

North Topsail Beach Police Chief William Younginer said police and EMS were already nearby responding to another call when Brown was bitten.

“So you had about a two-minute response out to him, which was great. Bystanders were already putting a towel on there and applying pressure which is what you should do,” Younginer said.

Brown said after he was bitten, many beachgoers continued to go about their swim, even after he was on the beach with his injuries.

“I was in the water, like screaming for help. People just looked at me, and thought I was just screaming to be screaming,” Brown said. “Like, I didn’t even know there was a shark that bit me. It just scared me so bad.”

North Carolina ranks fifth for shark attacks around the world, according to the Florida Museum’s Shark File. There have been 77 unprovoked attacks since 1935.

“They should think about it, but not worry about it so much,” Younginer said. “What you really ought to think about is riptides, rip currents and that kind of thing and learn how to get out of a rip current. Go with it, swim to the sides and things like that because more than likely that’s what you’re going to be getting.”

After surgery, Brown took part in some physical therapy on Monday. Doctors say he should be out of the hospital soon.

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