Shark patrols at New York beaches after swimmers bitten off the shore
A spate of shark attacks has led to an increase in patrols along beaches in New York.
"We want to make sure swimmers are safe," Long Island State Parks Regional Director George Gorman told Newsday.
A man swimming in chest-deep water at a Long Island, New York was bitten by an unknown creature on Tuesday.
The man, 47, suffered a number of lacerations to his right knee, according to the Quogue Village Police Department. He said he did not see a shark, but Quogue police advised swimmers to stay out of the water until officials could assess the risks.
Police said: "A shark was not physically seen, however, the bite was from a larger marine animal.
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"Police have notified all surrounding beaches of the marine life activity, and are encouraging patrons to stay out of the water until the situation can be further assessed."
The man was treated at hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Thousands of people attended beaches as Americans enjoyed the holiday weekend (Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)Soon after, 60 miles away, a 49-year-old man reported having a hand bitten while swimming near Fire Island Pines Beach.
Despite the attacks, holiday revellers remained on the beach.
"That's nature and maybe we are taking over their domain and they don't like it," 90-year-old Diana Fratello told WCBS.
Tuesday's incidents happened about 60 miles apart, including one off Fire Island Pines - not far from another attack the day before when a 15-year-old reported being bitten on one of his feet by a shark while surfing.
Earlier Monday, another 15-year-old girl was treated for an apparent shark bite to a leg.
"She didn't see what bit her, the lifeguards didn't know what bit her, the drone operator checked the area, we didn't see," Gorman said. "So we can't definitively say what bit her."
Patrols have increased along the New York coast (Newsday via Getty Images)On Monday, a 15-year-old teen was bitten by a shark also along the Long Island coast in Fire Island.
The shark, lurking in the waters of Kismet Beach, left its sharp teeth lodged in the teen's toes and left heel, but they thankfully remained in one piece.
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After a spate of attacks last year, state parks officials have increased patrols and deployed more drones to scout the waters for possible danger.
"We did have a season last year where we had six swimmers bitten from sharks, so this has turned into a bit of a concern," Suffolk County Police Commissioner Rodney Harrison told WABC.
Patrols have increased in the wake of a spate of attacks last year.
Six shark attacks occurred on Long Island last year, including another on Kismet Beach when a boy, 16, was bitten last July.
Surfer Shawn Donnelly, 41, was knocked off his board by a sand tiger shark only days before, leaving him with a four-inch wound in his leg following the incident on July 13.
He told NBC New York: “It got my left calf and knocked me off my board… when I was falling off my board, I saw the fin and its back.”
A tourist, 49, was attacked on the same day along with a 17-year-old on July 7.
The New York Post reported the "shark came up from behind and bit [the tourist] on the left wrist and buttocks."
Lifeguard Zach Gallo, 33, was also forced to fend off a shark by punching it when he felt a "sharp pain."
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