Teen Escapes From Shark

A New Zealand girl beat off a shark with her body board.

Lydia Ward, 14, was in water up to her middle when she was attacked by the vicious fish - which clamped its jaws on her hip.

Rather than panicking, she beat the shark - which was about five feet long - on the head with her floatation board until it let go.

She told Radio New Zealand: "I told Dad and he didn't really believe me but then I showed him my wetsuit with all the blood coming out and he believed me."

Lydia - who believes she accidently stood on the shark before it attacked - was treated in hospital for her wounds, but was not seriously injured.