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North Texas woman bitten by shark shares recovery journey, gratitude for beachgoers who saved her

At least four people were attacked by a shark on july 4.

Halee Powers , Content Gatherer

Ivan Herrera , Digital Journalist

A North Texas woman is sharing an update on her condition after a shark nearly took her life two months ago.

Tabatha Sullivent lost a majority of her left calf when a bull shark attacked her on July 4 on South Padre Island. Moments before Sullivent was attacked, beachgoers captured sharks on their cameras.

“The bull shark that attacked me was going up and down the beach and was probably about as big as my couch,” Sullivent said.

Beachgoers would play a part in saving Sullivent’s life. When the shark bit off her calf, she lost 75% of her blood. Strangers on the beach had tourniquets on hand and were able to keep the bleeding under control until emergency crews arrived on the scene.

According to CNN, Sullivent was taken to the ER and had to undergo six surgeries. Doctors used skin grafts from her thigh and fish skin to help heal her leg.

“Because I lost my calf, I don’t have feeling in my ankle. The bottom of my foot is all numb, too. I can’t feel that,” said Sullivent.

Sullivent wasn’t the only person bitten that day. Two people total were bitten, a third person was grazed, and a fourth man was injured fending off a shark, according to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Sullivent’s husband, Cary, was one of those people slightly bitten by the shark.

“I saw how bad it was and how white she was, and I thought, ‘I just lost my wife,’” Cary said.

Moving forward, Sullivent is sharing her recovery journey on social media. She said she hopes her story of strength will resonate with others who are struggling. She can walk with support, but she hopes to be able to hike, run and swim in the ocean again.

Sullivent is still in contact with a few of the beachgoers who saved her, calling them not only friends but her guardian angels.

“I think it was the help of people on the beach and the help of the higher power and God. I’m still here today, and we’re still fighting, and we’re telling our story. We’re telling our story for a reason,” said Sullivent.

Sullivent admitted that the future is unknown, but doctors say it’s a good sign that she is walking. She dreams of one day being able to hike, run, and even swim in the ocean again.

On the day of her attack, there were no shark warnings from the beach. When she is healed, Sullivent plans to work with the City of South Padre Island to have better alerts in place to prevent more shark attacks.

Texas Game Warden Capt. Chris Dowdy said the shark that attacked Sullivent and others on Independence Day escaped to open waters. TPWD said if you encounter large schools of bait near the shore, it could indicate a predator is nearby. You should remain calm and exit the water to wait for the animal to pass.

Cameron County Judge Eddie Trevino Jr. said the county would work with the City of South Padre Island and state and federal agencies to patrol the beaches.

“This is a horrendous event. The county will continue to provide all resources needed to keep our families protected to the best of our abilities. We greatly appreciate the support of our city, state, and federal partners in this effort,” Trevino said.

Copyright 2024 by KSAT - All rights reserved.

About the Authors

Halee powers.

Halee Powers is a KSAT producer primarily focused on digital newscasts and events.

Ivan Herrera

Ivan Herrera, MSB, has worked as a journalist in San Antonio since 2016. His work for KSAT 12 and KSAT.com includes covering consumer and money content, news of the day and trending stories.

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9 movies like Black Myth: Wukong to continue your journey to the west

There are more than a few cool movies based on Journey to the West

by Austen Goslin and Pete Volk

If you buy something from a Polygon link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement.

Few stories in the history of the world are as famous or have been told as many times as the tale of Sun Wukong. In fact, a new adaptation of the story, Black Myth: Wukong , is currently taking the world by storm, racking up record-breaking numbers on Steam . The game is a gorgeous retelling of the Chinese legend, complete with some of the best action-RPG gameplay of the year so far. But if playing the game has left you curious about the other ways this particular legend has been told, there are plenty of movies that fit the bill.

We’ve collected a list of some of the best retellings of the Sun Wukong legend, as well as a few other movies that make a perfect thematic match for Black Myth, so you can stay in this legendary world long after you’ve finished the game.

For more movies with mythical fantasy vibes, check out our list of movies like Elden Ring . And for more adaptations of Chinese folklore, check out our list of donghua to watch — many are based on Chinese mythic tales.

Monkey King: Hero is Back

What it is: A crowdfunded animated movie that became China’s highest-grossing animated film of 2015, Hero is Back follows Sun Wukong’s fall from power and his road trip with a child monk obsessed with the monkey king’s famous feats.

Where to watch it: Free with a library card on Hoopla, free with ads on Tubi, or for digital rental/purchase on Amazon

A Chinese Odyssey

What it is: The great action-comedy star Stephen Chow gets his turn at Sun Wukong in this loose adaptation of Journey to the West . It’s a two-parter – Pandora’s Box and Cinderella , followed by a much delayed Part Three in 2016.

Where to watch it: Netflix, for free with ads on Tubi or Plex, or for digital purchase on Amazon

Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons

What it is: Chow wasn’t content with just one Journey to the West adaptation – after starring in A Chinese Odyssey , he directed Conquering the Demons and it’s sequel, The Demons Strike Back . As usual for Chow’s movies, it balances slapstick humor and big set pieces for an entertaining time.

Where to watch it: Prime Video, for free with a library card on Kanopy, free with ads on Tubi and Pluto TV, or for digital rental/purchase on Amazon and Apple

The Monkey King 1-3

What it is: Director Soi Cheang’s ( SPL 2: A Time for Consequences; Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In ) trilogy of Sun Wukong movies. The first stars Donnie Yen, while the latter two star Aaron Kwok. The first one isn’t Cheang’s best work, but they are high budget modern adaptations of the story and the series gets better as it goes along.

Where to watch it: Free with a library card on Hoopla, free with ads on Tubi and Plex, or for digital rental or purchase on Apple and Amazon. The Monkey King 2 and 3 are both on Prime Video.

The Forbidden Kingdom

What it is: The rare “Hollywood wuxia,” Forbidden Kingdom stars Jet Li as the Monkey King and Jackie Chan as Lu Yan. It is also primarily about a kid from Boston who is obsessed with Journey to the West and wuxia, so your mileage may vary.

Where to watch it: For free with ads on Pluto TV and Freevee, or available to rent on Amazon and Apple

What it is: Adapted from a different 16th-century Chinese novel, Ne Zha was a smash hit at the Chinese box office and spawned a sequel, Legend of Deification . The movie follows a boy with great powers who is the feared protector of his community, and features stunning action sequences.

Where to watch it: Free with a library card on Hoopla, free with ads on Plex, or for digital rental/purchase on Amazon and Apple

New Gods: Nezha Reborn

What it is: A more modern adaptation of the Nezha story, this one sees the mythic figure reborn as a motorbike-riding rebel.

Where to watch it: Netflix

A Writer’s Odyssey

What it is: A 2021 Chinese fantasy action-adventure about a writer whose fantasy novel seems to be having a mysterious impact on the real world, and the man who has been sent to kill him.

Where to watch it: Streaming on iQiyi, free with ads on FreeVee and Tubi, or available to rent on Google Play and Amazon .

Dragon Ball

What it is: It’s Dragon Ball , duh. But it’s an excuse to say Son Goku is based on Sun Wukong.

Where to watch it: Hulu, Crunchyroll

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TLC Star Jazz Jennings Gives Update on 100 Lb Weight Loss Journey

Jazz Jennings has lost 100 pounds since starting her weight loss journey two years ago.

TLC star Jazz Jennings is working towards a new goal: her weight loss journey, in which she has already lost 100 pounds.

The 23-year-old took to Instagram to share an update on her achievement, two years after she began working out. On Monday, August 26, she captioned the post , “I’m so proud of my progress and want to thank my family, friends, and everyone who supported me in getting here! Good health is not a certificate you display; it is a constant effort!”

Her Instagram video featured clips of her running and exercising over the past two years, highlighting the before-and-after difference in her weight. Despite losing 100 pounds, she acknowledged that the journey isn’t over yet. “I still have room for improvement, but I am more motivated and inspired than I’ve been in years. Let’s keep it going!” she added.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jazz (@jazzjennings_)

The Youtube Star’s openness about her health journey has inspired many, including her own family, who expressed their support in the comments. Her brother, Sander Jennings , wrote, “So proud to be by your side every step of the way! You inspire me so much. Keep pushing towards your goals.”

Her mother, Jeannette Renee , commented, “Sooooooo proud of you! I love you so much.”

A fan added, “You go, girl!!! So proud of you!!!”

Jazz has previously been candid about her struggles with a binge-eating disorder. In a June 2021   Instagram post , she disclosed, “My binging, along with an increased appetite from some of the meds I’m on, has caused me to gain almost 100 pounds in a little less than two years. I’m ready to change my ways; I’ve been saying I’m ready to turn over a new leaf, but I’m running out of trees now. I’m ready to take the initiative and create positive changes when it comes to my health and body.”

The reality star became well-known for her show I Am Jazz on TLC, which follows her and her family as they navigate life with Jazz as a transgender woman. In an interview with Time magazine, she shared, “Ever since I could form coherent thoughts, I knew I was a girl trapped inside a boy’s body. There was never any confusion in my mind. The confusing part was why no one else could see what was wrong.”

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IN PHOTOS: KZ Tandingan & TJ Monterde’s ‘happily ever after’ in these 30 photos

Entertainment.ABS-CBN.com March 01, 2023 04:00 PM

KZ Tandingan and TJ Monterde are without a doubt one of the favorite inspirations of an Instagram-able couple. From photoshoots with giant teddy bears and rollercoaster rides to slaying the red carpet, these two know how to make people “ooh” and “aww” at their relationship.

Beyond the snapshots, however, their tandem also shares a deep passion in music. We all know KZ’s journey as a singer, meanwhile TJ is a singer-songwriter from Cagayan de Oro. She even featured in one of his songs from last year entitled “ Ikaw  at  Ako Pa Rin”.

But how did their love story really begin? On an episode of  Magandang Buhay ,  it was revealed that KZ’s co- X Factor hopeful Kedebon Colim was actually the mutual friend responsible.

For a time, Kedebon lived at KZ’s place to relax and unwind. It was also then when he met TJ through Martin Nievera. The “ Kahit Isang Saglit ” singer worked in the same label as TJ and was the former mentor of Kedebon on X Factor Philippines . TJ took a shot and asked if Kedebon were friends with KZ, to which the Cebuano singer answered yes and revealed that he was living at her house.

Although, nothing happened right away because there was a point when KZ thought that TJ was Kedebon’s boyfriend. This was when Kedebon started to stay at TJ’s place instead and she rarely saw her friend anymore.

Eventually, the mutual friend acted as a bridge and introduced the two to each other. He told KZ that TJ wanted to meet her, and the other way around to TJ.

They started off as friends, but that didn’t last long. Two years later, he began courting her. Fast forward to another year and the couple called it official.

WATCH: How KZ Tandingan and TJ Monterde became a couple

KZ and TJ got engaged last December 30 after being in a relationship for four years.

Last Friday, February 28, KZ and TJ posted pre-nup photos of their engagement shoot in Japan.

PHOTOS: Magandang Buhay with Lani Misalucha, Mitoy Yonting and Dessa Salazar

PHOTOS: Magandang Buhay with Fumiya Sankai, Bayani Agbayani and Baron Geisler

PHOTOS: Magandang Buhay with Elha Nympha and Lyca Gairanod

PAANDAR 2019: 13 celebrity love stories featured in Magandang Buhay that made us all ‘kilig’!

Magandang Buhay ipagdiriwang ang ikatlong anibersaryo bilang isang team

Friendship of Daniel and Ian gets featured on Magandang Buhay

Magandang Buhay: Doc Ali, may advice sa ating mga OFW

Magandang Buhay: Mitoy, ikinuwento kung gaano siya kasaya sa pagiging OFW

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LOOK: Coach KZ with her loving husband of 2 years

KZ and TJ are without a doubt one of the favorite inspirations of an Instagram-able couple.

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With a focus on creating mesmerizing 360 content, I invite you to embark on journeys that transcend traditional travel, capturing hidden gems, breathtaking vistas, and cultural wonders.

With a deep commitment to connection and expression, I believe in teaching not just dance steps but finding your unique style. My approach is all about helping you find your voice within the rhythm, fostering genuine connections, and interpreting music in your own way.

As an event management enthusiast, I specialize in crafting memorable events, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable experience for all attendees.

Join me on this extraordinary adventure of exploration, dance, creation, and wonder. Let’s embark on a journey together, where the possibilities are endless, and memories are created.

I am always open to talk about your business, projects,

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