A woman suffered a horrific leg injury in what is thought to be the first documented shark attack at a New York City beach for 50 years on Monday.
The victim, 50, was rushed from Rockaway Beach in the Queens neighbourhood to Jamaica Hospital where she is in a critical condition.
The attack prompted lifeguards to clear the beach as police in a helicopter searched unsuccessfully for the shark, the parks department said in a statement.
“We hope for a full recovery for this swimmer,” the parks department said. “Though this was a frightening event, we want to remind New Yorkers that shark bites in Rockaway are extremely rare.”
Multiple shark attacks were reported a month ago northeast of Rockaway, in the waters off Fire Island, off Quogue, a village on Long Island, and off Babylon, New York.
Sand tiger sharks, which can grow to 10 feet, have been spotted in relatively large numbers along the surf line off Long Island this summer.
Experts at the Florida Museum’s International Shark Attack File say they are attracted to the bays and baitfish of the Long Island coast.
