A lifeguard at Jones Beach was « possibly bitten by a shark, » local authorities said Monday in what would be the first documented shark attack on Long Island in three years.
The incident, which occurred around Nov. The clock, left the guard with a 2.5 cm cut in the left leg.
« A lifeguard reported that they may have been bitten by a shark, » George Gorman, regional director of the State Parks Department, told Gothamist . « You saw a fin in the water. »
The beach was closed to swimming for three hours because the state police used a drone to examine the water. The beach is open again at 2 p.m. after the search was empty.
« Some guards were out body surfing. He pushed the water out and felt something grab and pull him out, ”said one guard who refused to give his name because he was not allowed to speak to the press and looked down and had a shark bite on his Leg. «
» There are always sharks out there. If we close for sightings it’s kind of redundant, ”added the guard. « The fact that he was bitten – that’s unreal. »
But when word of the possible attack spread on the beach, many swimmers said they were reluctant to go back into the sea.
» It kind of freaked me out, « said Jeancarlos Cruz, a 31-year-old warehouse worker who came to the beach on his day off. « Sharks on the water, you never know if they’re coming back or biting someone. »
The attack comes amid a spate of shark sightings in the past few days. One was spotted off Nickerson Beach on Wednesday, and two sand sharks – approximately four to five feet long – were reportedly spotted outside Field 6 in Jones Beach on Thursday.
Jones Beach is like a scene from Jaws right now. Nobody goes into the water because of a shark fear pic.twitter.com/h7vyXNkYsR
Gorman said the sharks were likely chasing schools of bait fish swimming closer to shore – possibly the result of cleaner waters. “We’re not sure there’s anything out of the ordinary.”
If confirmed, it would be the first documented shark attack on Long Island since two children were bitten in 2018.
Update, 5:28 p.m .: Nassau County Executive Lauren Curran has just announced that she is asking for more patrols:
Due to multiple reported shark sightings, @NassauCountyPD is stepping up air and water patrols out of great caution. I urge residents to stay calm, use common sense and follow the instructions of the lifeguards.
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