Beachgoers react one year after shark attacks

OAK ISLAND, NC (WWAY) — One year ago, two young adults were in Oak Island when they were attacked. But last summer’s event hasn’t stopped folks from heading to Oak Island to soak up the sun this summer season.

“Well one of my friends told me about the shark attacks and it kind of crossed my mind, but I didn’t let it bother me,” Taylor Hope, a vacationer, said.

Summer vacation season is back in full swing, and beachgoers are hitting the sand in Oak Island. One year ago, two young vacationers lost limbs here, in twin shark attacks.

“Actually when we first came out here that was the first thing I said,” Baylee McSwain, a vacationer, said. “But I guess I was the only one who thought it would be a good idea to not go any deeper than my knee in the water.”

While last summer’s attacks may be in the back of people’s minds, it’s not stopping them from enjoying Oak Island.

“You know there’s always safety precautions from my mom, since I came here, not to go too far in the water,” Erica Boswell, a vacationer, said.

Folks we spoke with said just be mindful of your surroundings.

“Don’t go past your knees,” Haley Goode, a vacationer, said. “If you see a fin, turn around don’t drown.”

Bethany Hamilton is a professional surfer who also lost an arm in a shark attack. She says although that experience was traumatic, it didn’t stop her from wanting to get back in the water.

“I look back on the time when I lost my arm and it seemed like something so awful, and yes it was a tough time, but it has turned out to be a beautiful thing in disguise,” Hamilton said.

She encourages the Oak Island victims, Hunter Treschl and Kiersten Yow, to keep looking up because things keep getting better.

“Know that there’s a future beyond this sudden loss or this momentary pain that they’re going through,” Hamilton said. “Having one arm isn’t that bad! You’re still able to do so much!”

Hamilton says often times fear can hold people back, but she stresses to not let it.