Two people bitten in shark attack off South Padre Island in Texas

SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, Texas (KVEO) — Shark attacks disrupted Fourth of July Independence Day celebrations on South Padre Island in Texas on Thursday, as two people were taken to the hospital with bites, at least one of them severe, authorities said.

According to South Padre Island City Clerk Nikki Soto, police were called to an attack on a man who had been severely bitten around 11 a.m. He was initially treated on the beach by firefighters and police.

The Texas Parks & Wildlife Department later said in a statement that two people were bitten and two others “encountered” the shark but were not seriously injured. One of the bite victims was taken to a Brownsville hospital and the other was “flown out for further treatment.”

An eyewitness described the chaos and aftermath of the first attack on Nexstar’s KVEO.

“The lifeguards were trying to get people out of the water and everyone was screaming for them to get out,” Ashley Silva said. “It was a pretty scary sight with all the blood and everything.”

Based on witness statements and images on social media, wildlife ranger Captain Chris Dowdy assumed that authorities believed the bites were caused by a single shark measuring approximately 1.8 metres in length.

Beach patrols, firefighters and police patrolled the coast and flew drones after the attacks, Soto said.

The last reported shark attack in the area occurred five years ago, according to Dowdy. Texas Parks & Wildlife is assisting with the investigation.

Cameron County Judge Eddie Treviño Jr. released a statement urging beachgoers and swimmers to take precautions when going to the beach and entering the water due to the incidents.

“The county would like to extend its thoughts and prayers to the victims and families of these extremely rare and unusual attacks,” Treviño said. “The county is working closely with the mayor.
Patrick McNulty, the City of South Padre Island and our state and federal partners should patrol the beaches and take appropriate action.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.