SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, Texas (ValleyCentral) — On July 4, 2024, North Texas native Tabatha Sullivent was one of four people who were bitten by a shark in shallow waters on South Padre Island.
The Celina, Texas, native was swimming when something dark approached her from the water.
“All I saw was something gray in the water, so I just kicked at it because I thought ‘Oh my God, it’s a huge fish,’” Sullivent said in a previous ValleyCentral article.
Road to recovery: Woman with calf injury takes first steps after SPI shark attack
Sullivent continued to kick at the shark until it attacked and bit off a majority of her left calf.
Following the shark attack, Sullivent underwent skin grafting surgery along with regular therapy visits to help with her recovery process…