South Padre Island beaches remain busy despite July 4 shark incidents

SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, Texas (WOAI/KABB) — South Padre Island beaches were crowded again Friday after a series of scary incidents on July 4.

Texas Ranger officials confirm that two people have been bitten by a shark, one coming into contact with the animal and the other being injured while fending off the shark.

SPI Fire Chief Jim Pigg said the three injured beachgoers had to be taken to hospital. Area officials confirmed that even after the incidents, the beach remained open.

WOAI/KABB asked Cameron County Judge Eddie Trevino what prompted the decision.

“It would have been almost impossible to, quote, get everybody off the beach,” Trevino said. “We didn’t really have any issues getting people out of the water during that time.”

He said the priority was to clean the water, not close the beach, especially since only one shark was involved in all the attacks.

Pigg said city officials also contributed to security measures.

“We currently have lifeguards on the beach encouraging individuals to stay out of the water, or at least knee deep, to be aware that we have had shark sightings on the beach, and to make sure everyone stays safe,” Pigg said.

Trevino reiterated that shark sightings are not uncommon in the area, but bites like this are very, very rare.

“We have never heard of a shark attack as serious as what happened yesterday in the last 40 to 50 years, let alone a shark attack that bit one or two individuals,” Trevino said. “We have to remember that we are in their habitat, not the other way around.”

Dr. Kesley Banks, a research scientist at the Harte Research Institute at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, also spoke about shark attacks along the Texas coast.

“We watch the news and say, ‘Okay, time to get ready,’” Banks says. “There’s no animal news channel. In the animal kingdom, even marine species like sharks have an instinct to get ready for these big events. So these sharks are going out to feed before this storm.”