Damiana Humphrey, a 19-year-old from Oklahoma, showed remarkable courage by fighting off a shark that attacked her while she was swimming in Galveston, Texas. The incident, reported by FOX26, took place on May 28 during a family vacation.
While swimming in waist-deep water with her siblings, Humphrey felt a sudden, intense pain. “I looked down and there was a shark attached to my hand, so I guess I started punching it,” she said. The shark eventually let go and swam away after her brave efforts.
Humphrey’s siblings helped her out of the water, and she was rushed to a nearby hospital. The attack had severed four tendons in her hand, necessitating surgery. She faces several weeks of recovery and will be unable to work as a patient care technician during the summer.
“They said I should make a full recovery with my physical therapy,” Humphrey mentioned. “Honestly, I’m just glad it wasn’t as bad as it could have been.”
Galveston Beach Patrol Chief Peter Davis explained that shark attacks in the area are rare, often being cases of mistaken identity. “It’s really rare for us to have shark bites here in Galveston,” Davis told FOX26. “I’ve worked a few of them in my career and the ones I’ve seen were shark bites, not attacks.”
Dr. Kesley Banks, a Texas A&M research scientist, pointed out that various shark species are present in the Galveston waters, including black tips, spinner sharks, and bull sharks. The summer season sees an increase in shark encounters due to more people being in the water.
Humphrey’s quick response and resilience prevented a potentially fatal outcome. This event highlights the need for caution and awareness when swimming in areas known for shark activity.
