Shark attack victim in hospital bed.
Share this @internewscast.com

A WOMAN gives an update a year after surviving a brutal heart attack that left her calf torn off during a Fourth of July celebration.

Tabatha Sullivent was among four individuals hurt in a shark attack on South Padre Island along the southern coast of Texas when something came towards her.

Shark attack victim in hospital bed.
Tabatha Sullivent was brutally injured in a shark attack last yearCredit: 5nbcdfw
People pulling an injured person from the water onto a beach.
Sullivent was one of four people hurt in the attack, including her husbandCredit: X /zakisolja.mp4

“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,’” she told Valley Central.

On July 4, 2024, Sullivent was on a trip with family and friends celebrating a birthday, a graduation, an engagement, and an anniversary.

However, a simple trip to the beach nearly turned into tragedy after Sullivent was injured in a shark attack.

Sullivent kicked at the shark when it suddenly attacked and bit off a majority of her left calf.

Cellphone footage showed Sullivent bleeding heavily after she was pulled from the water with her left calf missing.

She was rushed to a hospital but had to be flown to another facility due to the extent of her injuries.

But the journey had only just begun as Sullivent faced several procedures, fought an infection, and underwent a skin graft.

Last August, she shared an update on social media, revealing how it was taking one of her first steps since the attack

“What I’ve lost won’t return, and coming to terms with that is the toughest part for me right now. It’s just the reality that my leg won’t…won’t grow back,” she expressed.

Sullivent told the outlet that she spent a month recovering in McAllen, Texas, before being transferred to her home near Dallas.

“I had a bone exposed that I had to get another skin graft done on that one, so I did that one at Baylor in Dallas,” she said.

Sullivent’s goal was to walk at her daughter’s wedding, just four months after the attack.

“I walked down the aisle, and I was dancing unassisted, so it was amazing it was great,” she said.

Sullivent’s husband was also injured in the attack after he tried to rescue his wife.

Now, the couple is going on vacation again, but they’re steering clear of the beach.

“Get a nice little tan going, and stay off the beach and out of the water, we do have the pool so that we can do that,” Sullivent explained.

Her whole family has gone to counseling since the attack, and Sullivent has begun seeing a therapist on her own.

She is working through her trauma to hopefully get back to some of her favorite hobbies.

“I want to go on a boat, I wish to go snorkeling, and I long to be in the water. Now, if I come across snorkeling trips or deep water, I’m uncertain if I could get in it,” she remarked.

“I think it would be really hard for me. And I would probably just panic and not know what was around me.”

However, the journey isn’t over, as Sullivent explained she will have to undergo another plastic surgery soon and is experiencing nerve pain.

She plans on getting cosmetic surgery on her leg for aesthetic purposes and to better protect her nearly exposed bone.

Still, Sullivent said she’s doing her best to remember the things she can do.

Woman describes seeing her husband running toward her from the beach.
Since then, Sullivent underwent several procedures and a skin graftCredit: Facebook / DHR Health
Woman using handrails to practice walking up steps with the assistance of two therapists.
However, her healing journey is still ongoingCredit: Facebook / DHR Health
Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
Federal immigration agents talk to Rebecca Torres, second left, after she tried to block a military vehicle during a raid in the agriculture area of Camarillo, Calif., Thursday, July 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Owen Baker)

Massive Raid at Glass House Farms in California: 360 Arrests and a Tragic Death Explained

Federal authorities have reported the arrest of over 360 individuals at two…
Port of Los Angeles sees record container traffic as Trump tariff deadlines loom

Port of Los Angeles Experiences Unprecedented Container Traffic Amidst Imminent Trump Tariff Deadlines

Importers are hastily bringing goods into the United States before upcoming tariff…

Dan Rivera, Caretaker of the Notorious ‘Annabelle Doll,’ Dies Unexpectedly at 54 During Tour

A PARANORMAL investigator has tragically passed away while traveling across the United…
JSO: Former Duval County music teacher arrested on child sex crimes

JSO: Ex-Duval County Music Teacher Charged with Child Sexual Offenses

Gregg Gafford, 42, stands accused of crimes allegedly committed during his tenure…
Ponte Vedra man charged with enticement of a minor

Ponte Vedra Resident Accused of Attempting to Entice a Minor

He faces federal charges for allegedly posing as a tutor online to…
(FILES) This file handout photo provided by Saudi Arabia's NEOM on July 26, 2022 shows the design plan for the 500-metre tall parallel structures, known collectively as The Line, in the heart of the Red Sea megacity NEOM. - Saudi Arabia was chosen to host the 2029 Asian Winter Games at a $500 billion futuristic megacity in the desert that planners say will feature a year-round winter sports complex. The Saudi bid was "unanimously approved", the statement said, noting that the megacity known as NEOM will be the first West Asian city to host the event. (Photo by NEOM / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / NEOM" - NO MARKETING - NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS (Photo by -/NEOM/AFP via Getty Images)

The Future of Saudi Arabia’s $1 Trillion Megacity “The Line” Uncertain as Leaders Assess Feasibility Amid Controversy

The ambitious $1 trillion megacity, The Line, faces uncertainty as Saudi leaders…
Kai Trump Dishes on Advice From Grandpa Trump When It Comes To Golf

Kai Trump Shares Grandpa Trump’s Golf Tips

In a sneak peek of Kai’s interview on “Fox and Friends” set…
How a girl's grandfather may influence when she gets her first period

The Impact of a Girl’s Grandfather on the Timing of Her First Period

Over the last 55 years, young girls in the US have been…
Video of suspected 'honor killing' plot resurfaces as parents stand trial for attempted murder

Video of Alleged ‘Honor Killing’ Conspiracy Resurfaces During Parents’ Attempted Murder Trial

The trial for a Washington father and his wife accused of trying…
Native American teens kayak major US river to celebrate removal of dams and return of salmon

Indigenous Teenagers Kayak Prominent US River to Honor Dam Removal and Salmon Return

KLAMATH, Calif. (AP) — As vividly colored kayaks glide through dense fog,…
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has watered down sex-ed guidance in schools

Public Uproar Over Cancellation of Proposed Ban on Sex Education for Children Under 9 by Bridget Phillipson

EDUCATION Secretary Bridget Phillipson sparked fury today after scrapping plans to stop…
Camp Mystic Recreation Hall damaged by flood.

Heartbreaking Story of How a 9-Year-Old Camp Mystic Victim Was Identified After Floods, Revealing Her Bravery

ONE of the youngest victims in the Texas floods was identified by…