On the Fourth of July, a shark attack occurred off the southern Texas beach of South Padre Island, where three people were bitten by the shark. The Fire Chief called the incident unprecedented for the area. Two separate shark attacks took place at different times and locations, resulting in victims being taken to a local hospital. One witness described a woman having her calf shredded in a horrific manner by the shark.
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department stated that shark encounters are not common in Texas, and when they do occur, they are usually cases of mistaken identity by the shark looking for food. The type of shark involved in the attacks has not been determined yet, and an investigation is ongoing. Lifeguards advised beachgoers in South Padre Island to stay out of the water or remain in knee-deep water as a precaution.
In a separate incident in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, a 21-year-old man was bitten by a shark while playing football in knee-deep water. The man, visiting from Ohio, was taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The Florida Museum of Natural History reported there were 36 unprovoked shark attacks in the US last year, resulting in two deaths. The report highlighted that the risk of a shark attack is relatively low, with swimmers advised to stay in groups and closer to shore to minimize the risk further.
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