A Pennsylvania teenager is recovering after getting bitten by a shark while surfing in South Jersey over the weekend.
The incident happened in the waters off Stone Harbor Beach.
Maggie Drozdowski needed six stitches after the rare attack, which serves as a reminder to always be aware while in the ocean.
"I thought it was just a crab pinching my foot," says Drozdowski. "My whole foot was in its mouth. I was shaking my foot as hard as I could. It was hard, it was really heavy."
The odds of being bitten by a shark are about 1 in 12 million, according to the International Shark Attack File Beach Injuries and Fatalities Report.
Taylor Hartl, a shark expert at Jenkinson's Aquarium, says while the risk is rare it's still possible. She says to avoid wearing bright colors or anything shiny like jewelry while swimming. She also says if you see a lot of bait fish, that could indicate that a predator is nearby.
