*Updated 7/009/24
On July 4, four people were injured by a shark in the surf at South Padre Island.
Here’s what we know about this shark attack victims.
A 35-year-old male from La Vernia, Texas:
- Required surgery
- In stable condition
A 49-year-old male from Celina, Texas:
- Treated and discharged
A 47-year-old female from Celina, Texas:
- Required surgery
- In stable condition
A fourth person:
- Received minor injuries
- Treated at the scene
The 47-year old female was Tabatha Sullivent who received a severe attack on her calf.
‘I turned around, and all I saw was something gray in the water. So, I just kicked at it, because I thought it was a huge fish, and it was coming at us. That’s when I think it grabbed my leg,’ Sullivent told CBS News Texas from her hospital bed.
In a story at The Daily Mail, Sullivent credits her husband (one of the attack victims-bitten when responding ) for saving her life.
‘If my husband didn’t jump into action and everyone else on the beach, if I didn’t have people pulling me out – not just to pull me out but jumping between the shark and me – I don’t think it would’ve stopped,’ she said.
The other victims were believed to be in the vicinity of Sullivent.
Humans are not typically targets of sharks, but shark attacks do happen. They are unfortunate and in this case, the silver lining is that a man was able to sacrifice his own safety to save his wife from what could have been a worse situation.
Incidents of multiple attacks in the same area are rare although there was an incident in Florida a few weeks ago. Incidents of a single shark attacking multiple people is even rarer.
Also, let’s kill a rumor right now.
This was NOT the work of a great white shark.
There have been multiple statements on social media about it being a great white most likely tied to the fact a great white with a satellite tag was verified in the surf at South Padre Feb. 26.
That shark is in Nova Scotia now. Seriously-nearly 3,000 miles away. And for the most part great white using the Gulf are here for wintering and return to the Atlantic during summer and fall.
Let’s not put the blame for this shark attack on a great white. It just doesn’t make any sense.
The shark in question is believed to be a bull shark although at the time of this writing we were not able to get official verification.
More to come.
Chester Moore