Quantcast

Possible Shark Bite at Jones Beach Reported

shark patrols
Nassau County police Marine Bureau officers performing shark patrols in 2020.
Photo by Kevin Kane

A 37-year-old man swimming in the Atlantic Ocean at Jones Beach State Park on Thursday afternoon suffered an injury consistent with a “possible shark bite,” Nassau County police said.

The victim suffered the laceration to his right foot at 1 p.m. June 30, police said. The incident comes as agencies across Long Island have been stepping up shark patrols as beach season kicks into high gear for the Independence Day weekend and in the wake of an increasing number of shark sightings in recent years.

At least one child was bitten by a shark in the surf off Fire Island in 2018 and a Jones Beach State Park lifeguard said he was bitten by a shark in summer 2021. The Fire Island shark bite was the first on LI since 1948, one of seven in New York State since 1670, none of them fatal.

Related Story: Advocate Who Called for Shark Alert System 10 Years Ago Relieved Plan Finally Enacted

Update: A prior version of this story reported that the age of the victim was 57 due to inaccurate information provided by the Nassau County Police Department.

Sign up for Long Island Press’ email newsletters here. Sign up for home delivery of Long Island Press here. Sign up for discounts by becoming a Long Island Press community partner here.