A Fourth of July celebration at South Padre Island turned chaotic when two people were bitten by a shark, prompting officials to clear the beach. The victims were taken to the hospital for treatment, and one was flown to another hospital for further care. Despite two other shark encounters, no serious injuries were reported. Officials, including game wardens and police, assisted with crowd control. A U.S. Border Patrol team aided in rescuing one of the bite victims and provided life-saving assistance. Shark attacks are rare in Texas, and the incident was isolated to the south end of the island. While shark encounters have been reported elsewhere in the U.S., experts attribute most attacks to mistaken identity, as sharks may confuse swimmers for fish. To avoid encounters, experts recommend monitoring signals in the water, such as baitfish or diving birds, and staying close to shore. Other tips include avoiding swimming alone, at dawn or dusk, or while bleeding, and refraining from wearing jewelry that resembles fish scales. In the event of a shark encounter, maintaining eye contact, moving away, and hitting the shark in sensitive areas can help deter an attack. Last year, the International Shark Attack File reported an increase in shark bites worldwide, with half of the attacks occurring in the U.S. Ten fatalities were recorded, mostly involving surfers and those engaging in board sports.
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