A 14-year-old boy from West Virginia is on the mend and speaking out after a harrowing shark attack while vacationing with his family at a North Carolina beach last week.
Blayne Brown was visiting North Topsail Beach and swimming near Beach Access 4 at 474 New River Inlet Road at approximately 12:30 p.m. local time on June 23, according to reports from ABC affiliate WWAY and NBC affiliate WCET.
Brown recounted that the shark bit his leg and ankle as he and a friend were swimming towards shore. “Itβs just really traumatizing and scary,β Brown told WCET. βI didnβt know what bit me. I just felt it and ran. Then I was screaming. My grandma was holding my hand and I was like, βIβm not gonna be okay. Iβm gonna lose my leg.ββ
The teen was taken to the Naval Medical Center Camp Lejeune Level III Trauma Center following the incident. Brown told the Department of Defense that he did not see the shark. “I sort of blacked out, walked toward the beach, and laid down, screaming. It felt like the shark was still on me,” he recalled.
North Topsail Beach Police Chief William Younginer mentioned that authorities were nearby on another call when Brown was attacked. β[We] 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,β Younginer told CBS affiliate WNCT.
PEOPLE has reached out to the police department for comment.
According to the Department of Defense, Brown underwent surgery to repair “several tendons in his lower leg and staple deep bite wounds.” Brown expressed his gratitude to the medical staff for their care, saying, “I thank them for fixing me up and setting me up for a good recovery.”
Chief Younginer expressed his desire to reunite with Brown. βI look forward to seeing him walk through the doors here one day and speaking to the officers and EMS that were there and going back out to the beach,β he said. βYou know, donβt be afraid of it. You have a long life ahead of you.β
Despite the recent attack, Younginer reassured beach visitors not to worry excessively about shark attacks. Authorities noted that North Topsail Beach had not experienced a shark bite incident in about six years. βWhat 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,β Younginer said, according to WNCT. βGo with it, swim to the sides and things like that because more than likely thatβs what youβre going to be getting.β
The Florida Museumβs International Shark Attack File reported 69 unprovoked shark bites on humans and 22 provoked bites worldwide in 2023. Among U.S. states with the most unprovoked bites that year, North Carolina ranked fifth, with three incidents, behind Florida.
Blayne Brownβs recovery journey serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of the ocean and the importance of quick response and medical care in the event of such incidents.
Matt Pinner is a dedicated journalist for WVPrepBB.com, specializing in USA and crime news. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for uncovering the truth, Matt brings timely and insightful reporting to his readers. His work on WVPrepBB.com keeps the community informed and engaged with the latest developments in national news and criminal justice.
