Shark Attack on South Padre Island Disrupts Fourth of July Celebrations

SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, TX (July 4, 2024) – A shark attack marred Independence Day festivities at South Padre Island, Texas, when two individuals were bitten by a shark, prompting immediate beach evacuations and a significant emergency response.

On July 4, 2024, a shark attacked two people at South Padre Island, a popular tourist destination on the southeast Texas coast. The victims were promptly taken to a local hospital, with one being airlifted to another facility for further treatment. Additionally, two others experienced encounters with the shark but were not seriously injured. Authorities, including game wardens, the South Padre Island Police Department, the Texas Department of Public Safety, and the U.S. Border Patrol, responded to manage the situation and provide emergency assistance.

“I felt like someone punched me in the leg, and when I turned around, I saw the shark. We yelled and ran out of the water. There are little bite marks on my calf, but I’m alright for now,” she said.

Victoria Ramos, one of the bitten victims

South Padre Island Fire Chief Jim Pigg confirmed that the shark was pushed back into deeper waters and stressed that such occurrences are rare for the area. No further sightings have been reported, but authorities remain vigilant.

Simultaneously, New Smyrna Beach in Volusia County, Florida, also known as the “shark bite capital of the world,” reported two shark bites. On July 4, a 21-year-old visitor from Ohio was bitten while playing football in knee-deep water. The following day, a 26-year-old from Sarasota, Florida, was bitten while wading in an inner tube. Both incidents resulted in non-life-threatening injuries and hospital visits.

These incidents are part of a broader trend of shark encounters in the U.S. this summer. In June, a man in his 40s was severely bitten on his forearm near Amelia Island, Florida. The same month, a 14-year-old was attacked in North Topsail Beach, North Carolina, and actor Tamayo Perry died from a shark bite in Oahu, Hawaii.

According to the International Shark Attack File at the Florida Museum of Natural History, there were 69 unprovoked shark bites worldwide last year, with the U.S. accounting for 36 of those. Experts like Gavin Naylor attribute most shark bites to cases of mistaken identity, where sharks confuse humans for prey like fish.

To minimize the risk of shark encounters, beachgoers are advised to:

• Stay close to the shore and avoid swimming alone.
• Avoid swimming at dawn or dusk when sharks are most active.
• Refrain from wearing shiny jewelry that might attract sharks.
• Avoid excessive splashing and entering the water with open wounds.