The Fourth of July holiday turned into a nightmare for beachgoers in the waters around South Padre Island, Texas, after authorities reported a shark bit at least two swimmers.
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department reported that two people were bitten by what is believed to be the same shark, and two more people encountered the shark but were not seriously injured. Two victims were taken to Valley Regional Medical Center in Brownsville, Texas, and one was later airlifted to another hospital, the agency said. Their conditions were not confirmed and their names were not released.
In a separate audio statement Thursday night, South Padre Island Fire Chief Jim Pigg said three of the victims were hospitalized and the fourth was treated at the scene for minor injuries.
Pigg also revealed that the shark “was on the south side of the island and was pushed out into deeper water.”
At approximately 11:00 a.m. local time on Thursday, officers responded to a report of a man who serious shark bite near the 4100 block of Gulf Boulevard, South Padre Island police reported. The victim was treated at the scene for a shark bite to his leg before being transported to a nearby hospital, police said.
Also shortly before 11:00 a.m., CBS News showed video footage of police rushing to the scene of the accident. A woman had been bitten on her left leg by a shark while swimming.
The video showed Good Samaritans and first responders pulling the woman from the water and wrapping a tourniquet around her leg to stop the bleeding. A dorsal fin can be seen swimming back and forth near the shoreline.
“Pending investigation, we don’t know what species this is and we don’t know why this is happening. It’s unprecedented here on South Padre Island,” Pigg said.
Dr. Kelsey Banks, a research associate at the Center for Sportfish Science and Conservation at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, told CBS News in an email that the video posted to social media suggested it was a “larger species of shark.”
“Larger coastal species are known to feed more and stay closer to shore before major meteorological disturbances occur,” Banks wrote.
In response, officials quickly deployed drones, boats and a helicopter to search for sharks. The city said it was considering closing the beach to the public, a Coast Guard lieutenant confirmed to CBS News.
South Padre Island is a 113-mile (182 km) long barrier island off the southern tip of Texas and is known for its resorts and beaches.
— Manuel Bojorquez contributed to this report.
