4 persons are believed to have been injured by the identical shark whereas in waters off the southern coast of Texas on the Fourth of July, officers stated.
Texas Sport Warden Capt. Chris Dowdy informed ABC Weslaco, Texas, affiliate KRGV that 4 separate incidents involving the shark, together with two bites, had been reported off South Padre Island.
In one of many incidents, the South Padre Island Police Division stated it obtained a name reporting a “extreme” shark chunk to the leg at round 11 a.m. native time Thursday close to the 4100 block of Gulf Boulevard.
First responders from the South Padre Island police and hearth departments supplied remedy on the scene earlier than the person was transported to Valley Regional Medical Middle in Brownsville, police stated.
Footage from a beachgoer who witnessed the incident confirmed a shark swimming close to the shore within the neighborhood of that assault.
A second particular person was bitten by the shark, whereas one was grazed and one other injured warding off the shark, Dowdy informed KRGV.
The second chunk sufferer was additionally taken to Valley Regional Medical Middle in Brownsville. One of many two chunk victims was flown out for “additional remedy,” Police stated Thursday night time.
Officers had beforehand stated 4 separate shark bites had been reported earlier than later clarifying the character of the incidents.
The shark has escaped to open waters and there’s no plan to comprise the shark at the moment, Dowdy informed the station.
The South Padre Island Seaside patrol, together with the hearth and police departments, had been patrolling the shoreline and utilizing drones, police stated following the Thursday morning assault.
“Shark encounters of this nature are usually not a typical prevalence in Texas,” officers stated in a press release. “When bites from sharks do happen, they’re normally a case of mistaken identification by sharks on the lookout for meals.”
Authorities have suggested beachgoers that in the event that they see “giant colleges of bait close to the shore, this usually an indicator a predator is close by, or should you see a shark within the water, calmly exit the water and await the predatory wildlife to go.”
This story has been up to date.