In a heart-stopping incident on a Texas beach, a woman was brutally attacked by a shark, leaving her bleeding and in need of immediate rescue. As horrified onlookers watched on in shock, a brave team of rescuers sprang into action to save the injured woman.
The terrifying scene unfolded at the South Padre Island, Texas, on Thursday morning.
In footage that has since emerged of the incident, a dorsal fin can be seen swimming back and forth near the shoreline as the woman lays on the sand.
Blood from her wound can be seen turning the waters washing up on the beach a dark red, while first responders wrap a tourniquet around her leg.
According to a statement by Texas Parks and Wildlife, the woman was one of two people bitten at the beach on Independence Day.
Two others also encountered the animal in the waters but managed to escape unharmed.
Their statement said: ‘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 being treated and the other has been flown out for further treatment.
‘Local game wardens and members of the Texas Game Warden Marine Tactical Operations Group assisted in patrolling the beach by boat and land patrol while DPS patrolled the area by helicopter and SPI PD and Cameron County rangers assisted with crowd control on the beach. No further details are known at this time.’
The statement added that shark encounters are not a common occurrence in Texas, and when they do happen it is usually a case of mistaken identity. Game Warden Capt. Chris Dowdy with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department said that authorities believe a single shark about 6 feet long was responsible.
Dr. Kelsey Banks, a scientist with the Center for Sportfish Science and Conservation at Texas A&M, told CBS News that the video suggested a ‘larger shark species.’
‘Larger coastal species have been known to increase feeding behaviors and remain closer to shore prior to large meteorological disturbances,’ Banks wrote.
Due to the shark, officers deployed drones, boats and helicopters to locate the predator and the city was also considering closing the beach.
As the sun sets on the Texas beach where this dramatic rescue took place, the memory of the shark watching from the water serves as a sobering reminder of the fragility of life and the need to always be prepared for the unexpected. You all should be safe out there!
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