Lone shark believed to have injured 4 bathers on 'JAWS Day'

In one incident, the South Padre Island Police Department received a call about a "severe" shark bite to the leg around 11 a.m. local time on Thursday near the 4100 block of Gulf Boulevard. First responders from the South Padre Island police and fire departments provided treatment at the scene before the man was transported to Valley Regional Medical Center in Brownsville, according to police.

Footage from a beachgoer showed a shark swimming near the shore around the time of the attack.

Another person was bitten by the shark, while one was grazed and another injured fending it off, Dowdy told KRGV. The second bite victim was also taken to Valley Regional Medical Center, with one of the two bite victims being flown out for further treatment, police said Thursday night.

Officials initially reported four separate shark bites but later clarified the nature of the incidents.

The shark has since escaped to open waters, and there are no plans to contain it at this time, Dowdy told the station. The South Padre Island Beach Patrol, along with fire and police departments, were patrolling the shoreline and using drones following the Thursday morning attack.

"Our hearts and prayers are with the injured and their families, and we hope for a speedy recovery," South Padre Island Mayor Patrick McNulty said in a statement.

"Shark encounters of this nature are uncommon in Texas," officials said. "When shark bites do occur, they are usually a case of mistaken identity by sharks looking for food."

Authorities have advised beachgoers that if they see large schools of bait near the shore, it typically indicates a nearby predator. If a shark is spotted in the water, they advise calmly exiting and waiting for the predator to pass.

4th July is often referred to as ‘JAWS day’ due to the movie’s events occuring around the 4th July holiday and that JAWS is a popular choice among fans to watch on Independence Day.

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