A woman was seen being stalked by a shark after the predator mauled her on a Texas beach.
The incident happened on South Padre Island, Texas, on Thursday morning and the woman had to be hauled to shore by a team of rescuers.
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.
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
A dorsal fin can be seen swimming back and forth near the shoreline as the woman lays on the sand
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.
The incident happened on South Padre Island, Texas, on Thursday morning and the woman had to be hauled to shore by a team of rescuers
Due to the shark, officers deployed drones, boats and helicopters to locate the predator and the city was also considering closing the beach
Due to the shark, officers deployed drones, boats and helicopters to locate the predator and the city was also considering closing the beach.
In March, a 14-foot great white shark was spotted near South Padre Island, according to local radio station KNFM.
The 3,000-lb. predator reportedly came within 100 yards of the beach.
It comes after two teenagers and a woman were attacked by a shark early last month in Walton Beach, Florida.
According to the Walton County Sheriff’s Office, a 45-year-old woman was bit by the marine animal in the water near Watersound Way and Coopersmith Lane at around 1.15pm yesterday.
She sustained ‘significant trauma to the midsection and pelvic area and amputation of her left lower arm,’ according to South Walton Fire District Fire Chief Ryan Crawford.
At around 3pm, officials responded to calls of another shark attack on two female teenagers, 15 and 17 years old that occurred four miles away from the first attack.
All three of the victims, who were visiting the area, were attacked while they were swimming near the sandbar.