Swimmer Injured In Suspected Shark Encounter At Jones Beach

 

A 20-year-old woman was bitten while swimming in waist-deep water at Jones Beach State Park on Long Island earlier this week, in what officials believe was likely an encounter with a juvenile sand tiger shark.

Emergency medical personnel and lifeguards quickly responded after the woman reported being bitten around 4:15 p.m. Wednesday. She was transported to a nearby hospital and treated for non-life-threatening lacerations to her left foot and leg, described by authorities as "minor."

This marked the first shark-related incident reported at the beach in 2025, prompting heightened safety measures just ahead of the busy Fourth of July weekend.

The swimmer said she did not see the animal that bit her, and beach officials immediately suspended swimming while drones were deployed to search for any potential marine threats. No sharks or dangerous wildlife were detected in the immediate aftermath.

Before reopening the beach on Thursday, authorities conducted another round of drone sweeps and patrolled the shoreline and waters using lifeguards and watercraft. Officials assured the public that monitoring will remain active throughout the season.

“Park Police, lifeguards, and staff remain on high alert and will continue to proactively patrol by drone, personal watercraft, and surfboats to help protect swimmers,” New York State Parks said in a statement.

Marine biologists from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation were consulted to help identify the species responsible. Based on the nature of the injuries and other environmental details, experts concluded that the bite most likely came from a juvenile sand tiger shark, though they emphasized that this could not be confirmed with certainty without a visual sighting.

“They were able to rule out several species based on injury photos and scene information,” the statement explained, but no full expert consensus could be reached.

Long-time beachgoers expressed surprise. “I’ve been coming here my whole life and never seen a shark,” said Alejandro Aranjo, who visits Jones Beach with his family. After the incident, he added, “I don’t even know if I’m going to let them go in to be honest.”

Despite this rare encounter, experts stress that the overall risk of shark attacks remains extremely low. Most incidents are believed to result from sharks mistaking humans for prey, particularly in the case of juveniles that lack hunting experience.

Global shark attack statistics support this. In 2024, unprovoked shark attacks dropped significantly, with just 47 incidents reported worldwide — a notable decline from the 10-year average of 70. The United States saw 28 of those attacks, including one fatality in Hawaii, but that figure was still nearly a third lower than in 2023. Florida accounted for half of the U.S. total, with 14 incidents.

For now, Jones Beach remains open, but officials are urging swimmers to be cautious and stay informed as they continue surveillance of the waters.