What we know about the attacks on South Padre Island

SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, Texas – Several beachgoers on South Padre Island were attacked by the same shark on Independence Day, a day when the island is packed with locals and out-of-town visitors for the holiday.

4 people injured

Wildlife officials in Texas confirmed that two people were bitten, a third person was grazed and a fourth man was injured while fighting off a shark on South Padre Island on Thursday.

CNN reported that two off-duty US Border Patrol agents pulled a victim from the water and placed a tourniquet on his leg.

Rayner Cardenas told KRGV that his son-in-law was pulled underwater by the shark.

“I swam towards him and he jumped out of the water and shouted, ‘Shark! Shark!’ The adrenaline shot through my veins and I immediately swam after him.”

Cardenas rescued his son-in-law by carrying him from the water to land.

Brian McDaniel, who witnessed the aftermath, told KRGV: “How can this even happen? It was completely surreal.”

Nereyda Bazaldua told CNN she saw her 18-year-old daughter Victoria and her other children running out of the water.

Victoria’s leg was covered in blood after a pair of shark teeth scratched her leg, CNN reported. Bazaldua said her daughter’s wound was not too deep and not very serious. They plan to give Victoria a tetanus shot.

According to Texas wildlife warden Captain Chris Dowdy, all attacks are likely related to the same shark.

Response to shark attacks

South Padre Island police were first called to the 4100 block of Gulf Boulevard around 11 a.m. Thursday for a report of a man suffering a severe shark bite to the leg.

Police and firefighters provided first aid on site before the man was taken to a hospital in Brownsville.

In total, two victims were taken to the hospital, according to state parks and wildlife officials. One of the victims was treated in Brownsville, while the other was flown to an undisclosed location for further treatment.

“Local game wardens and members of the Texas Game Warden Marine Tactical Operations Group assisted in patrolling the beach by boat and land, while DPS patrolled the area by helicopter and SPI PD and Cameron County rangers assisted with crowd control on the beach,” the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department said in a press release.

According to TPWD, such encounters with sharks are not common in Texas and sharks may mistake humans for food.

What happens next

Dowdy said the shark escaped into open water and there are no plans to contain it.

According to TPWD, if you encounter large schools of bait near shore, it may be an indication that a predator is nearby. You should stay calm and get out of the water and wait for the animal to pass.

Cameron County Judge Eddie Trevino Jr. said the county will work with the city of South Padre Island and state and federal agencies to monitor the beaches.

“This is a terrible event. The county will continue to provide all necessary resources to protect our families to the best of our ability. We are very grateful to our city, state and federal partners in this endeavor,” Trevino said.