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6-year-old child bitten by shark

Marin Alice Melton (Photo: facebook.com/matthewgrovemelton)

GALVESTON, Texas — A family on vacation in Galveston, Texas, had a close call when their 6-year-old girl was bitten by a shark.

The family was visiting Galveston Island Beach from Kerrville, Texas, when the incident happened as the girl, her father and her brother were walking back to shore.

The incident happened at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday.

The father, Matthew Grove Melton, said his daughter, Marin Melton, was in the water on a floatie ring. She was kicking her feet below the surface as bait fish jumped around her, according to KSAT.

When Melton heard Marin scream, he turned to see the white-bellied shark and pulled his daughter away, running to shore.

The shark let go and swam away.

Galveston Beach Patrol Chief Peter Davis told The Houston Chronicle Marin was bitten below her calf and above her left foot.

"Our belief is the shark bit this little girl's leg thinking it was a fish," Davis said, adding that it was a bite, not a shark attack.

"A shark attack would involve multiple bites where the shark intended to eat the person as prey," he said.

A Wednesday Facebook post from Melton said she will undergo multiple surgeries at The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston.

"She is stable and maintains a gracious, positive attitude. Her vital signs are good," Melton wrote. "We are grateful to God for His sustaining grace, even in the midst of pain and suffering. Thank you for your concern."

Our sweet Marin Alice Melton (age 6) is recovering from a shark bite from Pirates Beach in Galveston. She resides at the...

Posted by Matthew Grove Melton on Wednesday, June 15, 2016