'No time' to close beaches between two shark attacks, Mayor says

The mayor of a North Carolina town where two young people were left severely injured by shark attacks has said she does not think emergency workers had enough time between the incidents to close the beaches.

A 12-year-old girl was attacked on Sunday just off Oak Island, near Wilmington, before a 16-year-old boy was savaged less than two hours later roughly two miles away.

The girl lost part of her arm and suffered a leg injury, while the boy lost his left arm.

Oak Island Mayor Betty Wallace told reporters she did not think workers had enough time to decide to close the beach. After the second attack, beaches were closed.

The victims are said to be in a fair condition after surgery. Their names have not yet been released.