A POPULAR New York beach has remained closed on Tuesday after a 65-year-old woman suffered an apparent shark bite the day before.
The New York City Parks Department confirmed via social media that Rockaway Beach in Queens would remain closed to swimming and surfing.
“Parks Enforcement & NYPD will be on patrol to keep swimmers out of the water,” the department wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
“FDNY & NYPD will be doing aerial surveillance to monitor for sharks.”
The beach closure comes one day after a 65-year-old woman from New York City was left in serious but stable condition due to an apparent shark bite.
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Hospital officials have said the woman is expected to recover.
At the time of the incident, the woman was standing in water at Beach 59th Street Monday evening just before 6pm.
She suffered a laceration to the back of her left thigh and soon fell into the water, police have said.
Lifeguards rescued her from the water and placed a tourniquet on her leg before she was transported to Jamaica Hospital.
The woman has not been publicly identified.
Authorities searched the area by helicopter shortly after the incident but did not see any sharks.
“All indications appear to be a shark bite,” the New York City Fire Department told CNN.
The incident is said to be the first shark attack off the coast of New York City since 1958.
"Though this was a frightening event, we want to remind New Yorkers that shark attacks in Rockaway are extremely rare," the New York Police Department said in a statement.
"We remain vigilant in monitoring the beach and always clear the water when a shark is spotted."
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Several sharks have been spotted along the shore of Rockaway Beach prompting closures multiple times throughout the summer this year.
In July 2022 as well, multiple sharks were seen in the area, causing the beach to be closed for two days.
Sharks attacks have also been reported elsewhere in the state after five occurred over the Fourth of July holiday weekend off Long Island.
