The Mountain Brook community is rallying behind two teens who were seriously injured Friday in a shark attack on Florida's Gulf Coast. "The entire community is in prayer for them, for the teens and for the families, and we just wish them the very best and they have our undying support," said Mountain Brook Mayor Stewart H. Welch III.He asked that the community give them support, but also privacy at this time.Listen to the mayor's full statement of support in the video player above.Homes across the town are putting out purple ribbons to show support for Lulu Gribbin and McCray Faust and their healing process. It is a community tradition that dates back to the murder of Natalee Holloway. Classmate Nicholson Lowery, who is friend of Gribbin said, 鈥淥ne of the girls that was there, who was in my grade called me just to tell me about it and was freaking out because at the time they didn't know anything. And she just asked if I could tell people here to just pray for them.鈥滺omewood resident, Sally Elwood said, 鈥淵our heart just goes out to anybody in that situation. I can't imagine. And it's relatable. I mean, we've all been in those waters. We've all been swimming there. Lots of prayers, lots of support, lots of good vibes, well-wishes to just know they're not alone and that we're with them. Whether they know us or not, we're there for them.鈥滿ountain Brook resident Teresa Callahan said, 鈥淲e just need to pray without ceasing and for the healing of these girls physically, but also those that witnessed it emotionally, mentally and spiritually, because the healing is going to take a very long time in that regard as well.鈥滱 church held a prayer service on Sunday. The two victims are said to be active members of the youth group and dearly loved.Fire officials said the teen girls were swimming in waist-deep water with a group of friends just inside the beach's first sandbar.Gribbin suffered significant injuries to one upper and one lower extremity, both requiring tourniquets. She was airlifted to Ascension Sacred Heart Pensacola and remains in critical condition. She would later lose her left hand and part of her right leg.Faust received a "flesh wound" to her right foot. On Saturday, Beach Safety Director for the South Walton Fire District David Vaughn told CNN she had been discharged from the hospital.>> PREVIOUS COVERAGE: 2 Mountain Brook teens and woman seriously injured in back-to-back shark attacks along Florida Gulf CoastIt happened just four miles and 90 minutes after another woman was attacked.Officials do not know for sure if the same shark was behind the separate attacks or what species was involved.The time of the attacks 鈥� in the middle of the afternoon 鈥� was also an anomaly, Walton County Sheriff Michael Adkinson said. Sheriff's officials often warn people to be aware of sharks early in the morning and at dusk, their typical feeding times, he noted.鈥淚t would make more sense that with the nature and severity of the injuries, that it was the same large shark,鈥� Vaughn said.The last shark attack in Walton County was in June 2021. A 14-year-old survived a bite in the chest after swimming 40 yards from the shore in Grayton State Park. The one before that was a fatal attack in 2005.>> SHARK SAFETY: How to keep yourself and your loved ones safe
MOUNTAIN BROOK, Ala. — The Mountain Brook community is rallying behind two teens who were seriously injured Friday in a shark attack on Florida's Gulf Coast.
"The entire community is in prayer for them, for the teens and for the families, and we just wish them the very best and they have our undying support," said Mountain Brook Mayor Stewart H. Welch III.
He asked that the community give them support, but also privacy at this time.
Listen to the mayor's full statement of support in the video player above.
Homes across the town are putting out purple ribbons to show support for Lulu Gribbin and McCray Faust and their healing process. It is a community tradition that dates back to the murder of Natalee Holloway.
Classmate Nicholson Lowery, who is friend of Gribbin said, 鈥淥ne of the girls that was there, who was in my grade called me just to tell me about it and was freaking out because at the time they didn't know anything. And she just asked if I could tell people here to just pray for them.鈥�
Homewood resident, Sally Elwood said, 鈥淵our heart just goes out to anybody in that situation. I can't imagine. And it's relatable. I mean, we've all been in those waters. We've all been swimming there. Lots of prayers, lots of support, lots of good vibes, well-wishes to just know they're not alone and that we're with them. Whether they know us or not, we're there for them.鈥�
Mountain Brook resident Teresa Callahan said, 鈥淲e just need to pray without ceasing and for the healing of these girls physically, but also those that witnessed it emotionally, mentally and spiritually, because the healing is going to take a very long time in that regard as well.鈥�
Hearst Owned
Purple ribbon to support the teen shark attack victims
A church held a prayer service on Sunday. The two victims are said to be active members of the youth group and dearly loved.
Fire officials said the teen girls were swimming in waist-deep water with a group of friends just inside the beach's first sandbar.
Gribbin suffered significant injuries to one upper and one lower extremity, both requiring tourniquets. She was airlifted to Ascension Sacred Heart Pensacola and remains in critical condition. She would later lose her left hand and part of her right leg.
Faust received a "flesh wound" to her right foot. On Saturday, Beach Safety Director for the South Walton Fire District David Vaughn told CNN she had been discharged from the hospital.
>> PREVIOUS COVERAGE: 2 Mountain Brook teens and woman seriously injured in back-to-back shark attacks along Florida Gulf Coast
It happened just four miles and 90 minutes after another woman was attacked.
Officials do not know for sure if the same shark was behind the separate attacks or what species was involved.
The time of the attacks 鈥� in the middle of the afternoon 鈥� was also an anomaly, Walton County Sheriff Michael Adkinson said. Sheriff's officials often warn people to be aware of sharks early in the morning and at dusk, their typical feeding times, he noted.
鈥淚t would make more sense that with the nature and severity of the injuries, that it was the same large shark,鈥� Vaughn said.
The last shark attack in Walton County was in June 2021. A 14-year-old survived a bite in the chest after swimming 40 yards from the shore in Grayton State Park. The one before that was a fatal attack in 2005.
MARI DARR~WELCH
Although the beaches in Destin, FL about one mile west of where a young girl was killed on Saturday by a shark were open on Sunday June 26, 2005, Walton County Sheriff’s Deputies still patroled the area to answer questions and releave fears. (AP Photo/Mari Darr~Welch)
>> SHARK SAFETY: How to keep yourself and your loved ones safe