'There's no time to be sad': US teen's inspiring words after shark attack cost her leg

For most, a shark attack would be debilitating injury putting the victim out of commission for years, let alone months. This is not the case for Addison Bethea, a US teen who doesn't "have time to be sad about" the shark attack that led to the amputation of her leg, just five months after it happened.

Bethea, a 17-year-old Florida native, was looking for scallops with her family in June of this year when she found herself eye to eye with a 2.7 metre long long shark.

She sprung to action, describing how she "started socking it in the face, then I poked its eyes, then I tried to latch it off with my fingers, and then it bit my hand" to CNN.

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Her brother and several others nearby leapt to her rescue after hearing her cries, and she was airlifted to hospital, beating all odds despite the loss of her leg.

Now five months after the attack, Bethea is making a remarkable recovery.

"As the leg continues to shrink some, then the socket – which is the upper portion, they'll have to change it periodically," says her father, Shane, explained to Fox News.

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The family went to Orlando, Florida to be fit a new sports prosthetic, courtesy of the Jordan Thomas foundation who paid for the appendage when insurance wouldn't.

"Progress has been really fast. Progressing with it also keeps my spirits up, but my spirits haven't really been down since it happened," the 17-year-old shared, "There's no time to really be sad about it."

The teen engages in almost all the activities she did before the attack, including riding four-wheelers, hunting, cheerleading, and more.

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"I know a lot of people would get down about having an amputation this severe. But I just keep a positive mindset and keep friends and family close," Bethea said.

"Honestly, everything is still the same, other than the leg. I walk a little bit slower, but I still do what I used to do," the teen said.