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Surfer bitten by shark while sitting on board

A surfer in the Texas Gulf was bitten by a shark while waiting for a wave.

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The surfer, whose name was only given as Jim, was sitting on his board in the North Packery Channel, about 10 miles from the Padre Island National Seashore, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported.

Jim, along with his companion, was going further from shore looking for bigger waves when the man felt something hit him from below on Monday morning.

When the two got back to land, they saw some deep, crescent-shaped gashes along Jim’s foot, My San Antonio reported.

They are not sure what bit Jim but according to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, there are about 40 species of shark that live in the Gulf.

Officials at Padre Island National Seashore recommend that if you’re bitten by a shark, seek emergency medical assistance immediately. They also suggest that people refrain from entering the water where people are fishing — no matter what fishermen are going after, My San Antonio reported.

“Keep in mind that sharks live in the water and are always there, so the only way to completely avoid a shark encounter is to not go into the water,” public information officer for PINS, Kelly Taylor, told My San Antonio.