Lucy Mangum, 6, Describes Shark Attack Off North Carolina Beach (VIDEO)

GREENVILLE, N.C. (AP)-- A 6-year-old girl bitten by a shark while riding a boogie board off North Carolina's Ocracoke Island has no plans to avoid the beach after the injuries to her leg and foot are healed.

Lucy Mangum's parents, Jordan and Craig Mangum, told CBS' "The Early Show" on Tuesday their daughter loves the beach and the family plans to go back into the water as soon as it's feasible.

The Durham girl said little during interviews with CBS and NBC's "Today Show" from a hospital in Greenville, but her parents recounted the shark attack that severed muscles, an artery and the Achilles tendon in her leg.

Craig Mangum is a physician and said he was pleased with his daughter's recovery and predicted she would be walking and running again soon.

Comments

[ekg]

10:32 AM on 07/28/2011

I love these stories, they tend to keep the tourons out of my way while surfing

[mawoff]

12:30 AM on 07/27/2011

She is TOO cute. Must be a democrat!!

[LivelyLexie]

11:06 PM on 07/26/2011

I'm glad she's okay! What kind of shark was it?

[ekg]

10:26 AM on 07/28/2011

Probably a small Black Tip or Sand Tiger, they are the most prevalent around here. She would not be so well off if it were a Bull shark

[LivelyLexie]

11:40 AM on 07/28/2011

Makes sense, I figured it probably wasn't a bull shark, one bite is all it takes for them to eat you pretty much! And they're aggressive.

[Haydee Jade]

07:26 PM on 07/26/2011

She's going to have the best "what i did this summer" story on the first day back to class. Who can top the story, the coverage and the battle scars? She'll be fifty and still win.

[Wendy Stewart]

05:51 PM on 07/26/2011

What a little sweetheart. I am glad she's doing good and not afraid to go back in the water.

[GoRepublican]

04:56 PM on 07/26/2011

Need to ban sharks.

[Justmetootles]

06:57 PM on 07/26/2011

Better start with Capitol Hill then........

[GoRepublican]

11:06 PM on 07/26/2011

And those sharks too.

[debra galloway]

04:31 PM on 07/26/2011

I'm glad to hear the little girl is going to be ok. There are a lot of sharks in our waters here in NC. It seems to be getting worse every year. It always saddens me to hear about anybody getting bit by sharks.

[ekg]

10:26 AM on 07/28/2011

It is NOT getting worse every year.

[lovergal1015]

04:15 PM on 07/26/2011

This is only news because it has to do with a CHILD being bitten by a shark. Not to be heartless, but really, what's the big deal? Sharks bite people because from under the water, they look like seals or large fish, natural prey to a shark. This is not news. This is a family looking for publicity.

[debra galloway]

04:34 PM on 07/26/2011

Every shark bite around these beaches makes the news, may it be a child or a grown man. It is a big deal and yes you do sound heartless.

[Chad Wheeler]

05:16 PM on 07/26/2011

I know. The idea of ANY shark bite being ignored no matter the age/gender of the victim is just ludicrous.

[Jethrine]

04:57 PM on 07/26/2011

I think it is an interesting story myself. You don't hear of a shark attack in only 18 inches of water everyday. And why in the world would this family need publicity? Who are you? Joan Crawford?

[Rachel Gosciej]

04:02 PM on 07/26/2011

I'm absolutely in awe of how many people are responding with fear to this. Stuff happens, people! Honestly, you have more of a chance of getting into a car accident than being bitten by a shark, but we all still drive everyday! And as for the people who are saying it was irresponsible for the parents to let her out...COME ON! No one goes to a beach and thinks they're going to be attacked by a shark. It's a risk you take, yes. But it's so rare, there's no point in living in fear. So take a chill pill, go watch "Soul Surfer," and get some perspective. Life isn't worth living if you're living in fear. I'm thrilled she's doing well, I'm proud of her for moving forward as she is, and I pray she continues to recover beautifully. I hope this doesn't hold her back in life.

[dazey1st]

03:48 PM on 07/26/2011

I'm glad she made it. It will be sad that she will show physical scars when she is a young woman but hopefully she will have enough confidence that she will never have to be embarrassed by it when she goes with friends to the beach when she is older.

Seems to me that if we fed as chub to these troublesome beast way,way way out in the ocean the nastiest of criminals, pedophiles, rapist, murderers, (child killers) drug peddlers, and human traffickers (and while we at it we should take along some "wanna be" gang bangers,and those who might think about it,) to watch, they would never need to come to our beaches. Let's face it, they'd have an inexaustible supply. Yes, I know that's totally unrealistic but................

[Chad Wheeler]

05:17 PM on 07/26/2011

I would be proud of those scars- what a conversation piece.

[Max Shaw]

03:40 PM on 07/26/2011

What a brave girl. As an adult, I cant say I'd be going in anything but a bathtub for a long time if I was ever attacked by a shark..

[fattrucker]

03:23 PM on 07/26/2011

you have to consider the odds and take your shot in this world. sending your kids to alaska, where you KNOW there are bears, without a gun, FOOLISH. Taking your kids to the beach, VERY SELDOM a problem.

[Courtney250]

03:19 PM on 07/26/2011

My family goes to Ocracoke every year and I was there when this happened, I saw the helicopters and wondered what had happened. The last shark attack there was in 2003 I believe. And anyone will tell you to not go in the water at that time of day. They were very foolish to risk their daughters by doing that and they are very lucky she is okay. That being said it is extraordinarily rare to be attacked by a shark there. But please, everyone who is afraid, stay away anyway because I love that little secluded, unpopulated island....that's right, build a pool and be safe!

[ekg]

10:28 AM on 07/28/2011

Ditto

[sev129]

02:58 PM on 07/26/2011

not to sound callous but... why is this news? there's thousands of shark bites every year, most of them not fatal. now if it had been a giant squid, on the other hand...

[jtim2010]

03:27 PM on 07/26/2011

I just had to reply. I'm sick of the misinformation out there.
No, there are not *thousands* of shark bites every year.
There are an average of between 50 and 70 per year WORLDWIDE.
Yes, most of them are not fatal because sharks tend to not *like* the way human flesh tastes.
They usually mistake a swimmer for something else. They bite as a taste fortunately spit us back out.

[sev129]

03:50 PM on 07/26/2011

yeah, that was bit of an exaggeration. I know there's about 20 for florida, so I assumed the worldwide total would be much greater. I just don't think it's that big of a deal since most of them are from spinner sharks that aren't much bigger than 5 feet anyway.

[Rachel Kramer]

02:57 PM on 07/26/2011

i do not like swimming in the ocean. i rather be in a clean pool where i can see.i already have a fear of the water as it is, i dont want to add a shark attack to it. i wont take my 5 year old into the ocean either

[GraphicMatt]

04:15 PM on 07/26/2011

Ocean where I live is crystal clear......if you can't see in the ocean water where you live I'd stay out of it as well since it sounds pretty darned nasty. ; )

[Rachel Kramer]

09:12 PM on 07/26/2011

id like ur ocean

[ivoteforsmartpeople]

04:46 PM on 07/26/2011

Too bad for your kid! The ocean is awesome!

[Rachel Kramer]

09:12 PM on 07/26/2011

he rather be in a pool