Three shark attacks on the same day on Long Island
The Fourth of July is a big day to celebrate as everyone looks forward to carnivals, concerts, parades, picnics and firework extravaganzas. And what would it be without an outing at the Long Island beaches? But this year there was fear as well as fun as three shark attacks occurred in a 224 hour period at local beaches.
First, two teens were bitten off the waters of Long Island on Monday, prompting the prohibition of swimming on one of the biggest beach days of the year, according to reports.
A 15-year-old girl was bitten in the water by either a marine animal or a shark off of Beach 3 at Robert Moses State Park at around 1:45 p.m., ABC 7 reported.
She was treated for small puncture wounds on her left leg by Emergency Medical Technicians from the park. Then three miles east off Kismet in Fire Island, a 15-year-old boy out surfing was bitten by a shark and suffered puncture wounds to his heel and toes just before 6 p.m., ABC 7 reported. He was helped by a good Samaritan, and his heel and toes were not seriously injured, the outlet reported.
Around 50 sand sharks were spotted at Robert Moses, prompting its closure on Tuesday, Newsday reported. The beach was reopened at around 10:15 a.m., just in time for the Independence Day celebrations.
Later in the day, a swimmer was reportedly bitten by a shark in East Quogue on July 4, police said.
According to Quogue Village Police, the incident took place at 1:50 p.m. at the Quogue Village Beach on Dune Road. Early reports indicated that the man, 47, was bitten by a shark of “unknown species,” police said.
Police responded and requested medical services for the man, who suffered several lacerations to his right knee while swimming in chest-deep water, officials said. A shark was not physically observed, however, “the bite was from a larger marine animal,” police said.
The swimmer was transported to Peconic Bay Medical Center by Westhampton War Memorial Ambulance for treatment of non-life threatening injuries, police said.
Police have notified staff at surrounding beaches of marine life activity and are encouraging patrons to stay out of the water until the situation can be further assessed, they said.
In addition to these attacks, there have been at least others reported off Long Island, New York this summer. Four of the attacks occurred on Fire Island, while the fifth was reported on Jones Beach Island. Thankfully, none of the victims were seriously injured, and the sharks sighted were estimated to be four to five feet in length. The recent spate of attacks is highly unusual, as there were only 47 confirmed unprovoked attacks nationwide in 2021.
Scientists cite warming ocean temperatures and a resurgence of bunker fish for the shift in sightings. Experts say the increase in the number of sharks is a sign that conservation efforts have been successful. Officials have urged swimmers to be cautious and to swim in lifeguard areas only. The sharks are not targeting humans, but are after fish.
