Swimmer bitten on the foot at New York City seaside in a suspected shark assault

A swimmer was bitten on the foot in a suspected shark assault Friday at a New York City seaside, prompting authorities to quickly shut the seaside.

The assault at Jones Beach comes a day after a number of shark sightings have been reported at different New York City and Long Island seashores.

The particular person was swimming at Jones Beach State Park Field 6 after they suffered lacerations on their foot, the New York City Parks Department mentioned.

Lifeguards responded instantly and an ambulance took the sufferer to a hospital to be handled for non-life-threatening accidents, in keeping with the division.

Swimming was suspended whereas officers looked for sharks and different harmful marine life. After an hour of looking out, none have been discovered and swimming was allowed to renew, although restricted to wading as much as swimmers’ waists, the division mentioned.

New York City officers on Thursday reported a number of shark sightings at Rockaway Beach in Queens and imposed intermittent seaside closures. New York City Emergency Management additionally issued a warning advising of the closures and urging beachgoers to observe the steering from lifeguards.

Farther east, lifeguards at a Long Island seaside noticed a shark Thursday within the water off Point Lookout and instantly ordered individuals out of the ocean. Point Lookout and neighboring Hempstead seashores have been additionally quickly closed to swimming after the sighting.

The seaside closures come as record-breaking heat continues to grip the jap United States, drawing giant crowds to space seashores.

Shark sightings have turn into extra frequent as authorities improve using drones to seek for them within the water. But whereas sharks are generally discovered within the waters off the United States, shark bites are rare, consultants say.

Gavin Naylor, director of the Florida Museum of Natural History’s shark analysis program, told The Associated Press that there are between 60 and 80 identified unprovoked bites worldwide every year. It’s extraordinarily uncommon that two or extra individuals are bitten in shut proximity.