NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — New York State Parks issued an advisory Friday after a 20-year-old woman reported minor injuries from a marine wildlife bite while in the surf at Jones Beach State Park earlier this week.
At approximately 4:15 p.m. on Wednesday, the woman was swimming waist-deep at Jones Beach State Park's Central Mall beachfront when she sustained minor cuts to her left foot and leg after being bitten by "unknown marine wildlife," officials said.
Lifeguards and EMTs responded promptly, and she was transported to Nassau County University Medical Center Hospital for non-life-threatening injuries.
Following the incident, swimming was immediately suspended, and the beachfront was searched by drone for dangerous marine life, though nothing was found.
Swimming resumed the following morning, with Park Police and staff proactively using drones, surfboats, and personal watercraft to scan for marine life and large schools of fish.
The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and other experts reviewed information and photos of the injury, concluding that the "incident most likely involved a juvenile sand tiger shark (Carcharias taurus)," New York state park officials said in a statement.
Park police, lifeguards, and staff will remain on high alert and continue proactive patrols throughout the season to ensure swimmer safety.