Shark attack victims talk about July Fourth incidents at South Padre Island

What should have been a relaxing July Fourth beach holiday became a nightmare for four people who suffered injuries from a shark attack along the beaches of South Padre Island.

Victims and their families are talking about their experiences and how they're coping in the aftermath of the attacks, which authorities say involved one shark.

"I turned around, and he wasn't there anymore," Rayner Cardenas told ABC affiliate KRGV-TV.

Cardenas was swimming with his family along the South Padre Island coast when his son-in-law, 35, was pulled under by the shark, the news station reported.

"I started swimming towards him, and he jumped out of the water saying 'shark, shark, shark,' and that's when adrenaline kicked in. I started swimming after him," Cardenas said.

He told KRGV-TV his son-in-law, who is from La Vernia, was "severely" bitten on the leg at Beach Access 14. He was transported to a nearby hospital, where he was out of surgery and in stable condition, according to reports.

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Cardenas' son-in-law is one of four people who suffered injuries from the July Fourth shark encounter. Two people, including Cardenas' son-in-law, were bitten by the shark. The other two involved in the shark attack were grazed by the shark's teeth, authorities said. 

Tabatha Sullivent. 47, was the other shark attack victim who was bitten.

"I just thought it was a big fish, so I went to kick, to kind of kick it away, and at that point I think it's when it bit me," Sullivent told NBC News.

"Had I not pulled my legs up, it probably would've got my torso," she added. Her husband, 49-year-old Cary Sullivent, also suffered injuries after helping her fight off the shark. 

Eyewitness video shared on social media shows Tabatha Sullivent being pulled from the water by other beach goers as bloodied water surrounds them.

A fourth victim, 18-year-old Victoria Ramos, was in shallow water when the shark swam into her. 

It felt like "being hit by a quarterback," she told media outlet ValleyCentral.com.

"I just felt this pressure like someone punched me or like someone pushed the back of my leg and I just turn around and there’s a shark," Ramos said. "There’s little bite marks on my calf but I’m alright for now."

All victims were reported to be in stable condition after receiving medical treatment. 

A single shark was responsible for all four attacks, according to South Padre Island Fire Chief Jim Pigg. 

While the shark's species is unknown as of July 6, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Game Warden Captain Chris Dowdy confirmed with AP News that the shark was about 6 feet long.