An 8-year-old girl, Harper Ochoa, reportedly experienced a shark bite while vacationing in Galveston over Labor Day weekend. The incident occurred on August 30, when the girl felt “something grab the back of her leg” while playing in the surf.
After returning to the beach, family members noticed a large chunk of flesh missing from her leg, just below her calf. The family later shared the story with a Waco TV station, KWTX, which has since gone viral.
Lack of Official Reporting
Interestingly, the Galveston Island Beach Patrol had no prior knowledge of the incident. Chief Austin Kirwin stated that the beach patrol was patrolling the area at the time and received no calls or notifications about any shark-related activity.
Kirwin emphasized that the beach patrol prefers the term “bite” over “attack” but added that if there had been any issue, EMS or witnesses would have notified them.
According to Kirwin, the first he learned of the alleged shark bite was through KWTX’s report on social media. No calls from EMS or official reports had been made to the beach patrol regarding the incident.
Medical Attention and Public Reaction
Harper’s mother, Christa Ochoa, confirmed that a doctor examined the injury and believed it was indeed caused by a shark. The child required 13 staples to close the wound on her leg.
Despite the shocking details, some people on social media expressed skepticism about the bite’s occurrence. Christa Ochoa responded to these doubts, assuring that the incident was true.
As the story spread, the New York Post sensationalized the incident, describing Harper’s experience in dramatic terms, which further fueled the media frenzy. However, this was largely based on the information initially reported by KWTX.
Investigation and Official Responses
Chron reached out to various local agencies, including the Jamaica Beach Volunteer Fire Department and Galveston Police, to seek clarification.
Galveston police spokesperson Kurt Koopmann mentioned that they had not received any official reports of the incident and speculated that the family might have taken Harper to urgent care without contacting emergency services.
Christa Ochoa later confirmed that Harper had been hospitalized due to an infection from the shark bite but was expected to recover quickly with antibiotic treatment. Despite the concerns over the lack of official reports or paramedic intervention, Harper is reportedly eager to return to the beach.
Rarity of Shark Bites in Galveston
While the incident has drawn significant media attention, Chief Kirwin emphasized that shark bites are extremely rare off Galveston’s beaches.
In his 19 years of experience with the beach patrol, Kirwin could only recall two such incidents, noting that the chances of a shark bite occurring are extremely low compared to other risks, such as lightning strikes. Despite the intense media coverage, the number of shark bites in the area remains minimal.
The story of Harper Ochoa’s shark bite continues to circulate online, though many questions remain about the lack of official response and the family’s choice to seek medical care privately.
With the rare nature of shark bites in Galveston, this incident has certainly captured the public’s attention, highlighting both the mystery surrounding the event and the rarity of such occurrences.
