Shark attacks four swimmers on South Padre Island in Texas

Several people were sunbathing, swimming and celebrating Independence Day on South Padre Island when a shark attacked four beachgoers, Texas authorities said, using drones and boats to monitor the area and advising families to avoid swimming on the holiday.

Through a statement issued by the Texas Game Wardens and the South Padre Island Police Department (SPIPD) they said that around 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 4, they received an emergency call regarding a shark attack.

A man was bitten on the leg

Officers arrived at 4100 Gulf Boulevard, where they found a man who was swimming in the ocean had been bitten on the leg by the shark. SPIPD and the Fire Department provided first aid to the victim and then transported the man to Valley Regional Medical Center in Brownsville.

Minutes later, they were alerted to three more attacks, all involving the same shark, said the U.S. Coast Guard, which was also on the scene to respond to the emergencies.

The four bathers were taken to the hospital

Another person was bitten, though they did not specify where on the body, and was also taken to Valley Regional Medical Center. The third swimmer was grazed by the same fish and the fourth man tried to defend himself, but the shark attacked him. It was not clear if he was also bitten. One of the victims was airlifted, though they did not specify which hospital.

“All of the attacks occurred on Thursday and are believed to have been associated with the same shark,” said Texas Game Warden Capt. Chris Dowdy.

After treating all the injured people, the Coast Guard asked swimmers not to go into the ocean until they knew if the shark had moved on. Authorities deployed drones, set out on boats and flew in helicopters to monitor the water.

Captain Dowdy later said that “the shark has already swum into open water and there are no plans to contain it.”

Attack in Florida

Last week, a fisherman suffered a life-threatening shark bite while fishing in the waters off Fernandina Beach, north of Jacksonville, Florida.

The 40-year-old victim was fishing from a boat when he caught a shark. After being bitten by the fish, he immediately released it into the water. The man was immediately airlifted to a nearby hospital. Although he is in critical condition, doctors expect him to recover.

Keep reading:

• Man in critical condition after shark attack while fishing in Florida
• New shark attack rocks Hawaii days after legendary surfer’s death
• Three people were injured in Florida by a shark attack on two different beaches