The man said that if not for her grandfather's quick action, his daughter could be dead.
The father of the 6-year-old girl yanked into the water by a sea lion in Canada is setting the record straight.
Read: Terrifying Video Shows Sea Lion Dragging Young Girl Into Water
He says his family has been wrongly accused of putting his daughter in harm's way for feeding the sea lion bread crumbs last week in British Columbia during an outing with her grandparents.
"There was somebody beside them that was trying to feed them," the girl's father told the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, in his first interview since the shocking video went viral.
"My daughter went to the front to try to see the sea lions, to get a closer look,” he added.
That's when the animal suddenly sprung out of the water, grabbing the girl by her clothes and pulling her into the water.
She was rescued by her grandfather, who is being praised for his quick action to save the girl.
"My girl could have been gone. That reaction makes him a hero," the dad said.
Read: 4 Sea Lion Pups Are Released Back Into the Sea After 4 Months of Rehabilitation
He also revealed that his daughter is now on strong antibiotics because she received a superficial wound when the sea lion grabbed her.
Bacteria found on sea lion's teeth can lead to a serious infection known as "seal finger.”
“Only thing I care is God, she is safe. I could have gone organizing a funeral by now rather than doing an interview,” he said.
Watch: Curious Sea Lion Become Mesmerized by a Family's Umbrella at Aquarium
