Home / Disasters and Accidents / Swimmer Attacked: Shark Sightings Surge on Long Island
Swimmer Attacked: Shark Sightings Surge on Long Island
11 Jul
Summary
- Swimmer suffered non-life-threatening foot lacerations from a shark bite.
- Multiple shark sightings led to beach closures on Long Island and Queens.
- Enhanced surveillance with drones aims to monitor marine activity this summer.
Swimmers along the East Coast are on high alert following a shark bite at Jones Beach State Park on Long Island during the recent Fourth of July weekend. A man sustained non-life-threatening lacerations to his foot, with officials identifying a small sand tiger shark as the likely culprit. The beach was briefly closed for investigation.
This incident occurred amidst a notable increase in shark activity. Rockaway Beach in Queens, New York City's largest beach, experienced intermittent closures due to multiple shark sightings. Since May, Rockaway Beach has recorded 23 shark sightings and closures, with 16 occurring in the first five days of July alone.
Authorities are enhancing surveillance efforts to address the uptick in sightings. New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced expanded drone surveillance capabilities along Long Island State Park beaches to monitor shark and other marine-life activity throughout the summer. These measures aim to increase safety for beachgoers.
