Shark Attack Suspected at New York Beach, According to Officials: A tiger shark is believed to have bitten a woman at a beach in New York, as reported by authorities.
Chilling Shark Encounter at Jones Beach
Hey there, folks! This week at Jones Beach State Park, Long Island, New York, a freaky shark incident took place. A 20-year-old lady was swimming waist-deep in the water when she most likely became lunch for a young sand tiger shark. Eek!
EMTs and lifeguards flew to the swimmer's aid at Jones Beach State Park, and she was hurried off to the hospital to treat "minor lacerations" on her left foot and leg. New York State Parks shared the news in a Friday statement.
This was the beach's first reported shark sighting of 2025. George Gorman, the Regional Director of New York State Parks, told CNN affiliate WCBS about the terrifying Wednesday incident. The encounter comes before the bustling Fourth of July holiday weekend and two summers after a wave of possible shark sightings sent chills down spines of New York beachgoers.
According to the statement, the lady claimed she didn't see whatever bit her, and swimming was immediately halted at the beach. Officials conducted an unsuccessful search for dangerous marine life using drones following the incident.
Before the beach was reopened for swimming on Thursday, park police and staff used drones again to identify marine life in the area while lifeguards patrolled both from the shore and by watercraft, according to the statement.
"Park Police, lifeguards, and staff remain on high alert and will continue to proactively patrol by drone, PWS, and surfboats throughout the season to help protect swimmers," New York State Parks shared.
The risk of being attacked by sharks is still relatively low, experts assert, despite the encounter. Sharks usually don't seek out humans, and most incidents are cases of mistakes – confusion between humans and their prey, even by juvenile sharks, shark researchers have told CNN.
After the incident, biologists collaborated with park officials to determine the possible marine species responsible for the lady's injuries. Although the victim didn't see the animal or there weren't any subsequent drone sightings, biologists at the state's Department of Environmental Conservation cautiously speculated that the incident "most likely" involved a juvenile sand tiger shark.
Alejandro Aranjo, a frequent visitor to Jones Beach, told CNN affiliate WABC, "I've been here my whole life and never seen a shark in here." After the incident, he said, "I don't even know if I'm going to let them go in to be honest."
According to figures released in February, unprovoked attacks by sharks declined sharply in 2024, with 47 incidents logged worldwide. That's 22 fewer than in the previous year and significantly below a 10-year average of 70. The United States observed the highest number of unprovoked attacks by sharks, with 28 reported incidents, including one fatal attack by an unknown shark species off the northwest coast of Oahu, Hawaii.
So there you have it! While shark attacks remain rare, it's essential to be cautious when swimming in shark-infested waters. Stay tuned for more updates on this story!
In light of the incident at Jones Beach State Park, an intersection of science and environmental science could provide valuable insights for our safety. For instance, the collaboration between biologists and park officials might shed light on the behavior of marine species, especially juvenile sharks that might mistake humans for prey, which could be beneficial for sports enthusiasts who enjoy swimming.
