Shark attack on South Padre Island, Texas leaves 2 injured, 2 others report encounters (2024)

An official emphasized that the shark attack is "a very rare occurrence."

Dinah Voyles Pulver,Taylor ArdreyUSA TODAY

A Fourth of July at the beach went awry due to a shark attack on South Padre Island, a popular tourist destination on the Southeast Texas Coast. Two people were bitten by a shark, and beachgoers were cleared from the water, officials said.

In addition to the two shark bites, two other people experienced shark encounters but were not seriously injured, Texas Parks and Wildlife stated in a news release.

The encounters were among six reported in the U.S. within about 30 hours this week.

The two Texas bite victims were taken to a local hospital for treatment, and one of those was flown to another hospital for further treatment, the Wildlife Department said. Game wardens, the South Padre Island Police Department, the Texas Department of Public Safety, and others assisted with crowd control.

Two members of a U.S. Border Patrol search, trauma and rescue team pulledone bite victim from the water and administered “life-saving” aid, the Border Patrol Laredo Sector posted on its Facebook page.

Shark encounters are uncommon in Texas, the Wildlife Department said.

“The shark was located at the south end of the island and was pushed out to deeper water, “South Padre Island Fire Chief Jim Pigg told Fox 9. “This is a very rare occurrence that happened on the beaches of South Padre. No further sightings or encounters in the last few hours, but we’ll maintain vigilance.”

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Two shark bites in "shark bite capital"

Two shark bites also were reported this week in New Smyrna Beach, in Volusia County, Florida. which has the dubious distinction of being considered the "shark bite capital of the world" year after year. Eight shark bites were reported by the county last year.

On Independence Day, a 21-year-old visitor from Ohio was bitten on his right foot while playing football in knee-deep water at around 4 p.m. , said Tamra Malphurs, interim director of the Volusia County Beach Safety and Ocean Rescue.

Then, a little more than 24 hours later, a 26-year-old visitor from Sarasota, Florida was bitten on his left foot while wading in an inner tube in about 5 feet of water, Malphurs said. Neither of the injuries were considered life-threatening but both bite victims were taken to the hospital.

Texas victims and families speak out about shark encounter

One of the victims in Texas, Victoria Ramos, opened up with KHOU about her experience with the shark.

"I just feel, like this pressure, like someone punched me or someone pushed the back of my leg, and I turn around, and there's this shark, and he's turning around, and we're yelling, leaving the water. There's little bite marks on my calf, but I'm alright for now," Ramos recalled.

Videos circulating online show the shark swimming near the shore. Another beachgoer said he saw his son-in-law go under the water before jumping out and saying, "Shark, Shark, Shark!"

"That's when adrenaline kicked in. I started swimming after him,"Rayner Cardenas told local news about the bitten victim.

Shark encounters in the U.S. this summer

Several other shark attacks have been reported in the U.S. this summer.

A man in his 40s on a boat offshore of Amelia Island in Northeast Florida suffered a severe shark bite to his forearm and was rescued and airlifted to a hospital for treatment in late June.

That same month, a 14-year-old was attacked in North Topsail Beach, North Carolina, and "Pirates of the Caribbean actor Tamayo Perry died after being fatally injured by a shark in Oahu, Hawaii.

On June 7 alone, four people were left injured. Three were injured in shark attacks on Florida’s northern Gulf coast. One 45-year-old woman was critically injured along the beach in Walton County, Florida. Two teenage girls were injured while in waist-deep water about 4 miles away from the first incident. Also, on June 7, a 25-year-old woman was bitten by a shark off Oahu.

Why do sharks attack?

Last year, 69 unprovoked shark bites were reported worldwide, according to the International Shark Attack File at the University of Florida's Florida Museum of Natural History. That was an increase from the previous year but still considered within normal range, said Gavin Naylor, director of theshark research program, which tracks shark attacks worldwide.

More than half of those bites – 36 – were in the U.S., a little more than half the worldwide total, but five fewer bites than in 2022.

Naylor and other shark experts say shark bites are most often a case of mistaken identity when sharks mistake swimmers and surfers for fish. Surfers paddling themselves in the water may resemble fish, for example.

The Shark Attack file confirmed ten unprovoked shark-related deaths last year. Ten of those were considered unprovoked, four more than the five-year annual average. Two of the fatal attacks were in the U.S. The program considers a provoked shark attack bite when a shark is intentionally or unintentionally confronted.

Surfers and people participating in other board sports accounted for 42% of the incidents in 2023, the Shark Attack File reported. Swimmers and waders accounted for 39%, and snorkelers and divers for 13%.

Sharks: No match for warming oceans, studies say

How to avoid a shark encounter:

Watch for signals in the water, such as large schools of bait near shore or big flocks of birds diving into the water, which could mean fish are in the water, and avoid those areas.

Other tips from the Shark Attack File include the following:

  • Stay close to the beach
  • Don't swim alone
  • Don't swim at dusk or dawn
  • Avoid wearing jewelry because it can resemble fish scales
  • Avoid excess splashing
  • Don't enter the water if bleeding from an open wound or menstruating

What should you do if you encounter a shark?

Maintain eye contact and move away, leaving the water if you can, according to the shark attack file. And if a shark tries to bite you, hit the shark in the eyes and gills or on the snout to push it away.

Shark attack on South Padre Island, Texas leaves 2 injured, 2 others report encounters (2024)

FAQs

Shark attack on South Padre Island, Texas leaves 2 injured, 2 others report encounters? ›

In Texas, four people encountered a shark as they took to the waters off South Padre Island on the Independence Day holiday. “Details at this time indicate that two people were bitten and two people encountered the shark but were not seriously injured,” the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department said in a statement.

Was there a shark attack on South Padre Island? ›

The 4th of July holiday turned into a nightmare for beachgoers in the waters around South Padre Island, Texas, after authorities said a shark bit four swimmers. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department reported that four people were bitten by what is believed to be the same shark.

What kind of shark is South Padre? ›

It's unclear what shark species attacked Tamayo off Hawaii, but this summer's other major shark bites off South Padre Island in Texas and Florida's Panhandle are believed to be from large bull sharks or even bigger tiger sharks, Kajiura said.

What is the most shark infested beach in Texas? ›

The most shark-infested Texas beach is located on Mustang Island. Mustang Island encompasses a series of connected beaches, which terminate at Port Aransas in the north. These beaches have seen nine non-fatal shark attacks over the years.

Is it safe to swim in the ocean at South Padre Island? ›

Swimming and wading are allowed in the Gulf of Mexico along North Beach, Malaquite Beach, and South Beach, and in the Laguna Madre at Bird Island Basin. The Malaquite Beach area near the visitor center provides ample parking, picnic areas, restrooms and showers. Use caution when swimming and never swim alone.

Why can't you wear a tie on South Padre Island? ›

Declaring that ties are “detrimental to the welfare of the island,” the City Council officially decreed in 1997 that they be “banished from our land and waters forever.” This is all in good fun, of course – the “no tie” ordinance has yet to be enforced – but it's in keeping with the island's laid-back, informal ...

Why is the water brown at South Padre Island? ›

Many rivers and smaller waterways feed out into the Gulf of Mexico. As the freshwater flows south, it brings with it soil, sediment, and organic matter, giving the water that brownish color.

Is there bacteria in the water at South Padre Island? ›

Most infections occur from May through October when water temperatures are warmer.” Beach waters are tested regularly by the Valley Coastal Studies Laboratory at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. Currently, all South Padre Island beaches have registered low levels of bacteria.

Are there great white sharks in Texas? ›

A great white shark spotted off the Texas coastline has made history. The 14-foot animal, named LeeBeth, has gained quite the audience since being tagged in South Carolina more than three months ago.

What is the record shark in Texas? ›

The Texas state record for the biggest tiger shark is 1,129 pounds and 13-feet-6-inches long.

Are there dolphins in South Padre Island? ›

One of the most unique activities on South Padre Island is the dolphin watching tour. South Texas is a year-round home to several large pods of dolphin and The Original Dolphin Watch is your ticket to viewing them in all their natural splendor.

What beach has the most white sharks? ›

You won't have to look far to find one of the densest great white shark populations in the world, as researchers recently discovered an abundance of the toothy fish teeming off of Cape Cod.

Where are the most aggressive sharks located? ›

World Locations with Highest Attack Rates
  • United States. United States (All) California. Florida. Hawaii. North Carolina. South Carolina. Texas.
  • Mexico.
  • Central America.
  • Bahamas & Antilles.
Jan 18, 2024

What is the great white shark capital of the world? ›

Embark on an exhilarating journey from Cape Town to Gansbaai, the renowned Great White Shark capital of the world. Experience thrilling shark encounters and a variety of other activities in this picturesque coastal town along South Africa's southwestern coastline.

Is South Padre Island contaminated? ›

South Texas has long been known for its pristine beaches – and testing shows this is for good reason. “Some of the South Padre Island, South Texas beaches actually are among the cleanest in the country.

Has there ever been a great white shark in Galveston Texas? ›

The 14-foot animal, named LeeBeth, has gained quite the audience since being tagged in South Carolina more than three months ago. Late last month, the 2,600-pound female swam along the Texas coast, from the shores around Galveston down to a couple hundred yards off South Padre Island.

Has a great white shark ever been seen in the Gulf of Mexico? ›

Dubbed LeeBeth in honor of his late daughter, the shark has since traveled more than 2,600 miles along Florida and the Gulf Coast, shattering previously held records and notions about great whites and their migratory patterns.

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