Another person was bitten on their foot in knee-depth water in New Smyrna Beach, Florida.
Both attacks occurred during an unusual period of increased shark activity possibly due to Hurricane Beryl's approach.
Two people hospitalized after being bitten by a Bull shark in South Padre Island, Texas on July 4, 2024.
On the Fourth of July, 2024, multiple shark attacks occurred at popular tourist destinations in Texas and Florida. In South Padre Island, Texas, two people were bitten by a shark and taken to local hospitals for treatment. One victim was flown to another hospital for further care. Two other individuals reported encounters with the same shark but were not seriously injured.
In New Smyrna Beach, Florida, a 21-year-old man from Ohio was bitten on his foot while playing football in knee-depth water. His injuries were not life-threatening.
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department identified the shark as a Bull shark. Officials located the shark and safely moved it back to deeper waters without causing harm to the animal.
The attacks come during an unusual period of increased shark activity, possibly due to weather changes in anticipation of Hurricane Beryl.
Two people remain hospitalized following the attacks. Authorities encourage beachgoers to stay out of the water or at least go no further than knee-deep until further notice.
The risk of shark attacks is relatively small, but swimmers can minimize their risk by staying in groups and closer to shore.
Two other people experienced shark encounters but were not seriously injured
Victoria Ramos was bitten by a shark and recalled feeling like someone punched her leg before seeing the shark
Rayner Cardenas saw his son-in-law go underwater and shout ‘Shark, Shark, Shark’
Accuracy
Two people were bitten by a shark on South Padre Island, Texas
The two bite victims were taken to a local hospital for treatment, one was flown to another hospital for further treatment
Deception
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Fallacies
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Bias
(95%)
The authors use language that depicts the shark as extreme or unreasonable by using phrases like 'extremely rare occurrence' and 'very rare occurrence' to describe the shark attack. They also provide examples of other shark attacks in the US this summer, implying that these incidents are unusual and dangerous.
More than half of those bites – 36 – were in the U.S., a little more than half the worldwide total, but five fewer bites than in 2022.
Several other shark attacks have been reported in the U.S., including another one on Independence Day in Florida.
That same month, a 14-year-old was attacked in North Topsail Beach, North Carolina, and Pirates of the Caribbean actor Tamayo Perry died after being fatally injured by a shark in Oahu, Hawaii.
This is a very rare occurrence that happened on the beaches of South Padre. No further sightings or encounters in the last few hours, but we’ll maintain vigilance.
At least 3 people were bitten in shark attacks in Texas and Florida on the Fourth of July.
A 21-year-old man from Ohio was bitten on his foot by a shark at Florida’s New Smyrna Beach and taken to a hospital with injuries that were not life threatening.
Two people were bitten and two people encountered a shark but were not seriously injured in Texas. Both bite victims were taken to Valley Regional Medical Center in Brownsville for treatment.
One of the bite victims was assisted by off-duty Border Patrol agents who applied a tourniquet to their leg.
Accuracy
At least 3 people were bitten by sharks in Texas and Florida on the Fourth of July.
Two people were bitten by a shark on South Padre Island, Texas.
One of the bite victims was taken to a local hospital for treatment, one was flown to another hospital for further treatment.
Deception
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Fallacies
(95%)
The article reports on two separate shark attacks that occurred in Texas and Florida on the Fourth of July. The authors provide details about each incident, including the number of people involved, their injuries, and the actions taken by authorities and witnesses. There are no explicit logical fallacies present in the text. However, there is an appeal to authority when they mention that 'according to the International Shark Attack File' there have been fewer than 10 shark bites reported in Texas since 2012.
The two bite victims were taken to Valley Regional Medical Center in Brownsville, where one is being treated and the other has been flown out for further treatment, the department said.
According to the International Shark Attack File, run out of the University of Florida, there have been fewer than 10 shark bites reported in Texas since 2012.
