8-Year-Old Girl Injured in Shark Bite on Galveston Beach

8-Year-Old Girl Injured in Shark Bite on Galveston Beach

• Incident Date: Saturday, August 30, 2025 People.comWide Open Spaceshttps://www.fox8live.com.

• Victim: Harper Ochoa, a Central Texas girl, was playing in shallow water when she felt something grab the back of her leg. Her family initially thought it might be a stingray due to the severity of the bleeding, but later it was confirmed to be a shark bite People.comhttps://www.fox8live.comWide Open Spaces.

• Injury Overview: Harper sustained a deep bite below the calf with a chunk of flesh missing. She received 13 staples to close the wound People.comNew York Posthttps://www.fox8live.com.

• Recovery Update: She was hospitalized again for an infection and is now being treated with antibiotics. Doctors do not anticipate long-term damage, and her mother said she’s doing well—even asking if she could return to the beach once she’s better New York Posthttps://www.fox8live.comPeople.com.

Broader Context: Shark Bite Trends

• Another Recent Incident: Earlier in the week, another 8‑year‑old (a boy snorkeling off Key Largo, Florida) suffered a shark bite above the knee, was airlifted to hospital, and described as in severe condition due to significant blood loss People.com.

• Shark Encounters in Galveston: While Galveston sees millions of visitors annually, shark bites are extremely rare. Officials suggest most of these incidents result from mistaken identity rather than aggressive behavior People.com.

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