On the Fourth of July, three people were bitten by a shark off the coast of South Padre Island in Southern Texas, marking an unprecedented incident according to the city’s fire chief. The shark was located and pushed out to deeper water after the attacks, one of which resulted in a severe bite to the leg, leading to the victims being transported to local hospitals. The type of shark involved is still unknown, but authorities are investigating the incidents.
In a separate incident on the same day, a 21-year-old man was bitten by a shark while playing football in knee-deep water in New Smyrna Beach, Florida. The man, who was visiting from Ohio, was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Shark encounters in Texas are rare, with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department stating that when bites do occur, they are usually cases of mistaken identity by sharks looking for food. However, lifeguards in South Padre Island were advising beachgoers to stay out of the water or at least not go further than knee-deep in response to the attacks.
In 2020, there were 36 unprovoked shark attacks in the United States, resulting in two fatalities. The risk of being attacked by a shark is relatively low, but swimmers can further minimize their risk by staying in groups and closer to shore. Authorities in both Texas and Florida are reminding the public to exercise caution while in the water.
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