Shark Bites Woman in New York, Leaving Her in Critical Condition

According to authorities, a woman who was attacked by a shark off Rockaway Beach, one of the most well-known Atlantic coast attractions in New York City, was in critical condition.

The attack was reported at 5:49 p.m. in the water at 59th Street, according to the public information office of the New York Police Department.

According to spokesman Michael Hinck, she was still in critical condition late on Monday night at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, as reported by NBC News.

The victim was a swimmer who was 50 years old and was bitten on her left leg, according to the city's Department of Parks and Recreation.

According to a statement from the parks department, lifeguards were sent in to clear the beach after the attack while police in a helicopter looked in vain for the shark.

Tuesday's beach opening is postponed and will begin at 11 a.m. at the earliest, as authorities continue to keep an eye out for sharks in the area, according to the parks department.

More Shark Attacks?

A month ago, there were numerous shark attacks recorded in the seas off Fire Island, off Quogue, a Long Island village, and off Babylon, New York, all to the northeast of Rockaway.

Woman In Critical Condition After Reported Shark Attack At New York's Rockaway Beach

(Photo: by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 07: Police gather along Rockaway Beach at 59th Street after a woman was attacked by a shark in the early evening on August 07, 2023, in New York City. The woman is reported in critical condition after the attack which comes as New York beaches are witnessing an increase in shark sightings and encounters with swimmers.

This summer, sand tiger sharks, which can reach a length of 10 feet, have been seen relatively frequently along the surf line off Long Island.

According to specialists at the International Shark Attack File at the Florida Museum, they are drawn to the Long Island coast's bays and baitfish.

According to records from the previous year, eight of the 20 shark attacks reported in New York State since 1837 occurred in 2022.

Shark Attacks in the US

Shark attacks are relatively rare in the United States. In 2021, there were only 73 unprovoked shark attacks in the world, and only 3 of those attacks occurred in the United States.

The vast majority of shark attacks happen in tropical and subtropical waters, and the United States has relatively few areas with these types of climates.

However, there are a few places in the United States where shark attacks are more common. Florida has the most shark attacks of any state in the US, with an average of 20 attacks per year. California and Hawaii also have a relatively high number of shark attacks, with an average of 10 attacks per year each.

There are a few things that can increase your risk of being attacked by a shark. Swimming in murky water or at dawn or dusk can make it harder for sharks to see you, which can increase your chances of being attacked.

Swimming near schools of fish or seals can also attract sharks, as these are their prey. And of course, swimming in areas where sharks are known to be present is always a risk.