Authorities have confirmed a chilling incident on the Fourth of July when a shark attacked multiple people on a beach in Texas.
JUST IN: Four shark attacks reported at South Padre Island in Texas during Fourth of July celebrations.
Game Warden Capt. Chris Dowdy says all the attacks happened within two hours of each other.
One woman had a chunk bitten out her her leg as Good Samaritans were seen dragging… pic.twitter.com/Ng4aMKhjmi [1]
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) July 5, 2024 [2]
Shark attack this morning in South Padre Island. Prayers for this lady! 😳🙏🏼 pic.twitter.com/InwFEaEAau [3]
— don’tcallheramy (@deanda_min3) July 4, 2024 [4]
The South Padre Island Police Department and the U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Area confirmed to Fox News [5] that the encounter with the ocean predator left four individuals injured on South Padre Island, located on the state’s southern coast.
The attacks reportedly occurred around 11 a.m. local time along Beach Access 14, in the vicinity of Wanna Wanna Beach Bar and Grill.
🚨🇺🇸 A SHARK ATTACKED 4 PEOPLE ON TEXAS BEACH
A shark inflicted life-threatening wounds on at least two 4th of July celebrators today on South Padre beach in Southern Texas.
The attacks all happened within moments of one another.
Shark attack victim
“I feel like this pressure… pic.twitter.com/6rvGkWjaM6 [6]
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) July 5, 2024 [7]
After the attacks, first responders from the South Padre Island police and the fire department provided initial treatment at the scene, and one of the male victims was subsequently transported to a nearby hospital with severe leg injuries, according to police.
Four shark attacks have been reported at South Padre Island in Texas during Fourth of July pic.twitter.com/Rmyi4QF1hp [8]
— Dallas Texas TV (@DallasTexasTV) July 5, 2024 [9]
At present, there is no update available on the condition of the male victim, and information about the other three incidents has not been immediately disclosed.
Game Warden Capt. Chris Dowdy informed The Associated Press that the episodes took place within a two-hour timespan along the beach. While witness reports and social media images suggest the involvement of a single shark measuring approximately 6 feet (almost 1.8 meters) in length, authorities believe that this particular shark was responsible for the attacks.
🚨#UPDATE [10]: A police helicopter captured camera footage today of a shark near the South Padre Island shoreline, where multiple people were attacked. pic.twitter.com/kpMRTOz5T5 [11]
— R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) July 5, 2024 [12]
To mitigate further potential danger, law enforcement has deployed patrols along the shore in search of sharks.
Shark hunting on South Padre Island after several attacks today. pic.twitter.com/3CNoCGZyML [13]
— SpacePadre (@SpacePadreIsle) July 4, 2024 [14]