Swimmers at Point Lookout in Hempstead, Long Island, were forced out of the water on Thursday afternoon due to the sighting of a 9-foot shark. The incident occurred just before 10:30 a.m., prompting town officials to issue a red flag, effectively closing the beach to swimming.
Nassau County shark patrol units were deployed to search for the marine animal. The beach remained closed for several hours as beachgoers sought alternative ways to cool off during the 90-plus degree Fahrenheit weather. The water was reopened by 2 p.m. on Thursday.
Officials have not yet confirmed if the sighting could lead to further beach closures over the Fourth of July weekend. This incident follows a pattern of shark sightings and encounters in the region. In the past two months, a 9-foot great white shark was observed near the Jersey Shore. Last June, two separate incidents occurred at Jones Beach State Park, where a woman was bitten on the foot and another woman was bitten by a tiger shark.
In response to the previous encounters, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman had announced an increase in summer shark patrols a year prior, stating, "There are sharks in the water."