Shocking video footage captures a shark lurking near a Texas beach as a bleeding survivor is rescued from the water. On the morning of July 4th, beachgoers at South Padre Island were thrown into a panic when a shark attack occurred. The video reveals the shark’s dorsal fin slicing through the water close to shore while a woman, injured, lies on the sand.
Shark encounters are uncommon in Texas, with attacks being even rarer, highlighting the extraordinary nature of this event. Capt. Chris Dowdy from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department shared that they believe the shark involved was approximately six feet long. According to the department, shark attacks are often cases of mistaken identity where the animals confuse humans with typical prey.
During the incident, a woman was dramatically pulled to safety; she was one of two individuals bitten by the shark. Officials also noted that two other people encountered the shark—one was grazed, and another sustained injuries while attempting to ward off the shark.
The disturbing scene was captured in images showing blood mixing with seawater as the injured swimmer was carried to shore. Texas Parks and Wildlife released a statement saying, “Details at this time indicate that two people were bitten and two people encountered the shark but were not seriously injured. The two victims who were bitten were transported to Valley Regional Medical Center in Brownsville, where one is currently being treated and the other has been flown out for further treatment.”
In response to the attack, local game wardens and members of the Texas Game Warden Marine Tactical Operations Group, along with other agencies, patrolled the beach both by boat and on land, while helicopters and local police managed crowd control.
Dr. Kelsey Banks, a scientist at the Center for Sportfish Science and Conservation, commented to CBS News that the video suggests the shark was likely a larger coastal species. “Larger coastal species have been known to increase feeding behaviors and remain closer to shore prior to large meteorological disturbances,” explained Banks.
The aftermath of the attack saw the two victims transported to Valley Regional Medical Center in Brownsville, one of whom was airlifted for advanced medical care.
While there are numerous shark species, only a handful, including the Great White, Tiger Shark, Bull Shark, and Oceanic Whitetip Shark, are commonly linked to most human attacks.