On July 4, a shark attacks 4 beachgoers on a Texas island

Four people encountered a shark while swimming off the coast of South Padre Island in Texas on July 4, American Independence Day. According to Texas authorities, two people were bitten and another person sustained injuries while trying to help.

Police said the attack occurred around 11 a.m. Thursday at Beach Access 14 near the Wanna Wanna Beach Bar and Grill, Fox News reported.

“Details at this time indicate that two people were bitten and two people encountered the shark but were not seriously injured,” the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department said in a statement.

The two people bitten were taken to Valley Regional Medical Center in Brownsville. One is currently being treated at the facility, while the other was transported elsewhere for further care, the department said.

The third person, who tried to help one of the bite victims, suffered non-life-threatening injuries, the department told CNN. The exact cause of her injuries is still unclear.

According to the authority, another beach visitor reported that he felt a shark brush against him as it swam past.

According to Google Trends, this article is a trending article, reflecting the growing concern about the shark attack.

Game warden Captain Chris Dowdy told AP the attacks occurred within two hours of each other on the beach.

According to Dowdy, based on eyewitness accounts and images on social media, a single shark measuring approximately 1.8 meters long is believed to be responsible for the incident.

Footage shared online appeared to show a seriously injured person being brought to shore after the attack. The water was visibly smeared with blood, and distressed beachgoers were overcome with emotion. In an attempt to stop the bleeding, several bystanders appeared to grab a belt to use as a makeshift tourniquet, CNN reported.

According to the International Shark Attack File, fewer than 10 shark bites have been reported in Texas since 2012. This puts the Lone Star State behind Florida – which leads with 259 reported bites -, Hawaii (76), South Carolina (45), North Carolina (31) and California (29).

This story also trended on Google Trends, highlighting public interest in the Fourth of July events.

(This is a frequently searched topic on Google Trends)