Christina Giorgio has vacationed with her family in Emerald Isle for 19 years and loves the beach.

But she admires the ocean from the shore, splashing in the water occasionally to cool off but never venturing too far from the water's edge.

"I love the beach not the water," she said Thursday in front of the Sea Dunes home where they are staying.

Giorgio said she has stayed away from the ocean since watching the movie "Jaws" as a child, and news of an apparent shark bite the previous night in the water near their Emerald Isle vacation spot didn't ease her fears.

"It made me nervous," said Giorgio, who adds that she doesn't mind her own children swimming and playing in the ocean.

"It scares me in the back of my mind, but I'm not going to stop them," she said.

Giorgio and her family noticed a commotion down the beach Wednesday night but didn't find out until Thursday that it was related to a possible shark bite.

A 14-year-old girl was bitten on the foot, causing lacerations and possible damage to ligaments and tendons, town officials said.

It happened around 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in the waters off the 9400 block of Emerald Isle.

Emerald Isle EMS and the Emerald Isle Fire Department responded within minutes, and the child was transported to Carteret General Hospital in Morehead City.

Carteret General confirmed a patient had been admitted to the hospital after an apparent shark bite and that patient was in stable condition.

A doctor at the hospital indicated that the wounds inflicted were from a probable shark bite, said Beth Beswick, vice president of public relations for the hospital.

Due to patient privacy regulations and at the request of the family, no information could be released about the patient's identity or her condition, she said.

"The Town of Emerald Isle expresses its sincere concern for the young girl, and wishes her a full and speedy recovery," said Town Manager Frank Rush. "We regret that this unfortunate incident occurred in Emerald Isle, but consider it an isolated, chance occurrence."

The incident is the second possible shark bite in the area this year.

In May, a 9-year-old was bitten by an unidentified marine animal at Bear Island.

William T. Early of Wilmington was riding a surfboard toward the shore and had come off the surfboard in shallow water when something bit his left arm, The Daily News reported at the time.

The bite was not inconsistent with a shark bite but it could never be confirmed as one, said Charlie Peek, public information officer for the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation.

While it could not be confirmed as a shark bite, the boy's doctor indicated to the family that it could have been. The bite from the animal came very close to a major artery in the boy's arm but he is doing well, said Hammocks Beach State Park Superintendent Paul Donnelly.

The last reported shark bite in Emerald Isle was in July 2002, when a 15-year-old girl visiting from Greensboro was bitten on her lower leg.

While such incidents are a possibility when swimming and playing in the ocean, Emerald Isle officials say the chances of them happening are small and it shouldn't keep people from enjoying the beach.

"Beach destinations are America's No. 1 vacation choice and Emerald Isle is proud to be among the finest beach vacation areas on the East Coast," Rush said. "The beach is a great place to play and relax, but it is also the natural habitat of abundant marine life, some of which can be dangerous to humans. Although the chances of a dangerous encounter are extremely small, it is important for beachgoers to understand this environment and be aware of potential dangers."

The International Shark Attack File at the University of Florida offers advice for reducing the chances of having an interaction with a shark:

Some of the tips include avoiding the water during darkness or twilight hours when sharks are most active; stay in groups since sharks are more likely to attack a solitary individual; avoid wearing shiny jewelry and refrain from excess splashing.

Reporter Molly Dewitt contributed to this story. Contact Carteret County reporter Jannette Pippin at jpippin@freedomenc.com or 252-808-2275. Visit www.jdnews.com to comment on this report.