19-year-old Oklahoman survives shark attack

An Oklahoma teenager survived a shark attack on Galveston Beach over Memorial Day weekend.

The shark bit the hand of Damiana Humphrey, 19, of Durant while she was swimming.

She said she fought off the shark, hitting it and screaming until it let go.

“I thought I was imagining it because my body wasn’t processing the pain at the time and I thought, ‘I don’t hurt,’ like it was a dream because it happened so quickly,” Humphrey said.

Humphrey was taken to the local hospital where she underwent surgery to repair four torn ligaments.

According to experts, the teenager’s reaction is the best defense when encountering a shark.