SOUTH PADRE ISLAND – A woman is recovering after being bit by a shark Saturday evening at South Padre Island.

McAllen resident Rogelio Hernandez said he and his family frequent the island.  The father told CHANNEL 5 NEWS his daughter, Mia, loves to make sand castles and play in the water.

He and his wife head to SPI every chance they get. He said it's paradise on earth.

"Just the tranquility of being here, the weather is great, being here it's awesome," he said.

Hernandez said he always keeps a watchful eye over his daughter when she's in the water, especially after the reported shark attack.

South Padre Island Fire Chief Doug Fowler said emergency crews responded to a marine-life incident Saturday evening at the 4000 block of Gulf Blvd.

"They found a swimmer who had some lacerations on the top and side of her foot," he explained.

Fowler told CHANNEL 5 NEWS the woman was rushed to the hospital. Doctors informed officials the bite was from a shark. He said they’re estimating the shark to be anywhere from three to four feet in size.

Fowler explained moving forward his staff will be looking into ways to better protect beach goers.

"We have to reach out to our other partners in other areas other beach communities and say what kind of things can we do better to better protect our public," he said.

Fowler added the woman is still recovering from her non-life threatening wounds.

Hernandez said this rare incident won't stop his family from enjoying their favorite beach.

"My daughter – she loves it, she's building a sand castle right now. So she's having a great time," he said.

However, he said they won't avoid taking a dip in the water either.