DURANT, Okla. (KFOR) — An Oklahoma teen who survived a brutal shark bite dared to relive the terrifying moment.
What was supposed to be a relaxing vacation, gave Damiana Humphrey the scare of a lifetime when she unexpectedly encountered a shark.
“I thought it was a dream. I was like, this can’t be real. This can’t be real,” said Humphrey.
Each year, the 19-year-old and her family take a vacation.
In May, they decided to go to the beach in Galveston, Texas.
Humphrey said they had only been there for one day and decided to go enjoy the ocean.
“We were about like waist deep because the waves were so bad and the wind was pretty bad,” said Humphrey. “My sister-in-law was with us and she saw something happen in one of the waves. At the time we didn’t really know what it was.”
Within seconds a casual swim turned terrifying.
“As I was turning, a shark like grabbed a hold of the top of my hand and so I looked down and saw that there was a shark on my hand,” said Humphrey.
Experts said Humphrey’s reaction is your best defense when encountering a shark.
“Anything you can do to get that shark to release you and definitely their nose is very sensitive there snout so hitting, punching to get away is effective,” said John Money, Deputy Director of the Oklahoma Aquarium.
When the shark finally let go of Humphrey’s hand, she ran out of water and straight to her parents.
“I’m like screaming, I’m crying,” said Humphrey.
Her hand was covered in bite marks.
“They’re like getting me out the water, wrapping a towel around me, and they sit me down and my dad’s trying to calm me, while they call 9-1-1,” said Humphrey.
Humphrey was rushed to the local hospital and had to have surgery.
The college student said four tendons in her hand were severed.
She now sports a brace but is grateful to be alive.
“I know I’m OK and it wasn’t as bad as some people’s were. So I’m very lucky in that sense and I take that to heart,” said Humphrey.
Humphrey, who wants to be a nurse, said a nightmare come true won’t keep her from going back in the ocean.
When asked whether she plans to go in the ocean and enjoy vacations going forward, Humphrey replied: “Yeah, I will. I will definitely steer clear of murky water for right now.”
It is still unclear what kind of shark bit Humphrey.
The teen will have to do physical therapy, but is expected to make a full recovery.