South Padre Island Survivors Recall July 4 Shark Attack One Year On

Beach-goers on South Padre Island are marking the first anniversary of a rare multiple-victim shark attack that injured four swimmers on 4 July 2024. Celina, Texas, resident Tabatha Sullivent and three other people were bitten in shallow water when what witnesses described as a dark figure approached from the Gulf of Mexico. The incident, which occurred in waist-deep surf during last year’s Independence Day celebrations, prompted temporary beach closures and renewed calls for better public awareness of shark behaviour along the Texas coast. No further attacks have been reported in the area since, but local officials continue to urge swimmers to avoid murky water and to stay in groups.