COCOA BEACH, Fla. -- An 11-year-old tourist was attacked by a shark Monday as she waded in shallow water on an Atlantic Ocean beach, officials said.

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Donald Forbes Reports

Torry Lawrence from Sterling, Ill., was reportedly bitten on the foot in knee-deep water just after at 10:30 a.m. on Cocoa Beach, witnesses said.

"She had a serious injury to her foot, but it was not life threatening,'' said Cocoa Beach Fire Capt. Rod Donhoff.

"We heard screams and she was trying to crawl out of the water and her little brother was helping her and I guess she got bit by a shark," witness Jeanna Rhine said.

A nurse on the beach assisted Lawrence when her brother dragged her to shore.

"I'm assuming a shark bit her pretty good across the top of the ankle, across the toes down to the tendons, to the bone," nurse Stacy Buser said. "It's pretty nasty looking. She'll probably need some surgery."

Lawrence was taken to a local hospital by helicopter for treatment. Her condition is not known.

Two people were bitten by sharks in Volusia County earlier this month.

Lifeguards said that the bite is most likely related to the change in Florida’s weather. As water temperature increases, sharks often come closer to shore to feed on bait fish and sometimes mistakenly bite humans.

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