Additional Coverage:
- Single shark injures 4 different people on the same day (newsbreak.com)
A shark attack disrupted Independence Day festivities near South Padre Island, Texas, resulting in injuries to four individuals. The incident, which took place amid holiday celebrations, involved a single shark that engaged in multiple interactions with beachgoers, including two bites.
According to details from local ABC affiliate KRGV, one victim suffered severe injuries to the leg and required hospitalization. The shark also inflicted a bite on another person, grazed a third, and a fourth individual was injured while attempting to drive the shark away, reported Chris Dowdy, a Texas game warden captain.
One woman received medical treatment right on the beach, as per a report by KVEO. The shark attacks began around 11 a.m. local time and occurred sporadically over approximately two hours.
Dowdy mentioned that the shark measured about 6 feet in length and seemed to be responsible for each reported incident. In response, local authorities employed a helicopter and drones to track the shark, which eventually headed towards open waters.
Historically, shark attacks are uncommon, with the International Shark Attack File noting only seven confirmed unprovoked attacks in Cameron County, where South Padre Island is located, prior to the current incidents. In 2021, an 11-year-old was also suspected of being bitten by a shark in the same area.
Experts emphasize that shark bites are influenced not only by the number of sharks but also by human activity in the waters. Increasing beach attendance across the U.S. might contribute to these encounters. To minimize risks, swimmers are advised to avoid areas where sharks may feed, stay close to the shore, swim in groups, and avoid murky waters or swimming at dusk, when sharks are more likely to feed.
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- Single shark injures 4 different people on the same day (newsbreak.com)