Shark Attacks 4 Texas Beachgoers on Fourth of July, with Report of 1 Suffering 'Severe' Bite

A shark is believed to have attacked four people off the southern coast of Texas on the Fourth of July.

According to a press release from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department on July 4, authorities received reports of four people having been attacked by a shark at South Padre Island.

"Details at this time indicate that two people were bitten and two people encountered the shark but were not seriously injured," the release read in part.

According to ABC News , the South Padre Island Police Department said it received a call reporting a "severe" shark bite to a man's leg at approximately 11 a.m. local time.

In a post shared on Facebook , the US Border Patrol Laredo Sector said "two off duty Border Patrol agents from Laredo Sector leaped into action today during a shark attack at South Padre Island." The post, which featured two photos of an individual being treated on the beach, added that the agents "pulled the shark attack victim from the water and provided lifesaving aid."

The two bite victims were transported to Valley Regional Medical Center in the city of Brownsville, per the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's release. One of the victims has been flown out for "further treatment."

The conditions of the two bite victims are unknown, according to local media outlet KRGV .

Game Warden Capt. Chris Dowdy told the outlet that the third person was injured trying to fend off the shark and received stitches, while another was grazed and suffered minor injuries.

Dowdy added that the shark had escaped to open waters.

Following the attacks, the Texas Department of Public Safety patrolled the area by helicopter, while game wardens and members of the Texas Game Warden Marine Tactical Operations Group assisted in patrolling the beach by boat.

"Shark encounters of this nature are not a common occurrence in Texas," the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department said in their release. "When bites from sharks do occur, they are usually a case of mistaken identity by sharks looking for food."

"If you see large schools of bait near the shore, this typically an indicator a predator is nearby, or if you see a shark in the water, calmly exit the water and wait for the predatory wildlife to pass," the release added.