By Armando Hernandez
04 Jul 2024, 20:59 PM EDT
A July 4th party on South Padre Island turned into a nightmare for beachgoers after four people were injured by a shark in waters off the southern coast of Texas on July 4, authorities said.
According to statements by Captain Chris Dowdy, Texas Ranger, Four separate incidents involving the shark were reported, including two bites.
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department later confirmed that two people were bitten by what is believed to be the same shark, and two other people encountered the same shark but were not seriously injured.
There were four back-to-back shark attacks this July 4 at South Padre Island, TX. Texas Game Wardens confirmed. Authorities believe it was a shark in those four attacks. Authorities keeping people out of the water. pic.twitter.com/Na6K3ftCRe
— ChristianvonPreysing (@vonPreysing) July 4, 2024
The injured couple was taken to Valley Regional Medical Center in Brownsville, Texas. One of them was later airlifted to another hospital. Their condition was not confirmed and their names were not released.
In the recount of the events, at around 11 a.m., officers responded to a report about a man who had suffered a serious shark bite and the South Padre Island Fire and Police Departments treated the victim on scene for a shark bite on his leg before he was transported to a nearby hospital.
Also shortly before 11 a.m., video released by CBS News showed police rushing to the scene of a woman who was bitten on her left leg by a shark while she was swimming.
The video shows visitors and lifeguards pulling the woman out of the water and placing a tourniquet around her leg to stop the bleeding. A dorsal fin can be seen floating back and forth near the shore.
Authorities had previously said four separate shark bites had been reported before later clarifying the nature of the incidents.
Meanwhile, it has emerged that the shark has escaped into open waters and there are no plans to contain it at this time.
Despite this, the South Padre Island Beach Patrol, along with the fire and police departments, patrolled the shoreline and used drones.
According to statistics from the specialized site Tracksharks.com, Each year, approximately 100 shark attacks are reported worldwide, Therefore, the probability of being bitten by one is considered to be very low; however, in certain areas, bathers are asked to always be aware of the presence of these animals.
Researchers at the International Shark Attack File (ISAF) suggest that sharks often strike unfamiliar objects to determine their potential as food, as is the case with other smaller mammals, so when they encounter a human they often mistake them for prey.
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