A swimmer was bitten on the foot in a suspected shark attack Friday at Jones Beach State Park in New York, leading officials to temporarily close the beach and suspend swimming activities. The individual received treatment for non-life-threatening injuries.
The incident occurred at Field 6 of Jones Beach State Park. Lifeguards responded immediately and transported the victim to a local hospital via ambulance, according to the New York City Parks Department.
Following the attack, authorities initiated a search for sharks and other marine life. After an hour-long search yielded no sightings, swimming was permitted to resume but restricted to waist-deep water. The beach was later reopened.
This event follows a series of shark sightings reported on Thursday at other New York City and Long Island beaches. Rockaway Beach in Queens experienced intermittent closures due to multiple shark sightings, and New York City Emergency Management issued advisories urging caution and adherence to lifeguard instructions.
Further east, lifeguards at Point Lookout, a Long Island beach, spotted a shark on Thursday, prompting an immediate evacuation of the water. Point Lookout and the adjacent Hempstead beaches were also temporarily closed to swimming.
The beach closures coincide with a period of record-breaking heat across the eastern United States, which has drawn large crowds to coastal areas. Officials have increased the use of drones to monitor waters for sharks, contributing to the rise in reported sightings.
Experts note that while sharks are common in U.S. waters, unprovoked bites are rare, with an estimated 60 to 80 such incidents occurring globally each year. The occurrence of multiple bites in close proximity is considered extremely uncommon.