Shark attacks at Surfside

Shark attacks at Surfside, A teenage boy was left hospitalized after fending off a shark attack at a Surfside beach along Texas' Gulf Coast Monday.

Around 2:45 p.m. a local church group was out in the ocean at a beach three miles north of Surfside, when a 15-year-old boy from Needville had a chance meeting with a four-foot shark, according to ABC affiliate KTRK. Then the animal attacked.

The boy began to fight off the shark with his bare hands, Surfside Assistant Police Chief Gregg Bisso told CNN. Other kids from the group went to help after the boy was bitten on the leg and hand, and a police officer on the scene bandaged the wounds. The victim was later flown to Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center in Houston with non-life-threatening injuries.

"I hope this teenager grows up to be a cop and gets my back," EMT Zuandra Monnat told KTRK. "He fought off this shark. It bit his leg and he literally tore this shark off of him and that's how he got the lacerations to his hands."

Monnat told Houston Fox station KRIV the last time they had a shark attack in Surfside was some 20 years ago. She advised beachgoers to steer clear of swimming near fisherman, who could be surrounded by bait, and to get out of the water if they notice something suspicious.

"I never worry about that in Texas," 17-year-old Taylor Cervantes told KRIV. "I don't know. You don't hear about it often, but it's really scary."

Bisso told NBC News there could be more sharks in the area due to recent weather conditions or to bait fish in the area. Police do not plan to issue a warning to residents until they determine the cause.