In an unusual incident, a woman was bitten by a shark at Rockaway Beach on Monday, August 7. The Associated Press reported that the bite was powerful enough to take a substantial portion of flesh from her thigh, leaving a sizable and deep wound. This marks the first documented shark attack in New York City waters in many years.
A stretch of beach stands empty 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.
Rare Shark Attack in New York City
Tatyana Koltunyuk, 65, was swimming near Beach 59th Street when she was suddenly attacked by a shark. She endured a shark bite on her left leg to which lifeguards immediately responded to her distress calls, removing her from the water, applying a tourniquet, and offering initial aid. She was then taken to Jamaica Hospital in critical condition, her status now listed as "serious but stable."
City park spokesperson Meghan Lalor expressed hopes for Koltunyuk's full recovery, emphasizing that shark bites are exceptionally rare at Rockaway. Despite reports suggesting Koltunyuk lost around 20 pounds of flesh, The New York Times reported that images indicate the figure might be exaggerated.
After the attack, lifeguards evacuated the water, and helicopter searches failed to locate any sharks. The beach remained closed for swimming and surfing on the following day. According to experts, the incident marks the first shark bite at Rockaway Beach in since 1958 or about 65 years ago.
Hans Walters, a field scientist from the New York Aquarium, described the occurrence as uncommon and urged continued vigilance regarding sharks, who share the same aquatic environment. He noted that while this incident is a reminder of their presence, it should not discourage people from enjoying the beach, as sharks are "our neighbors" residing in nearby waters.
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Increasing Presence of Sharks in New York Beaches A Good Sign, Expert Says
During previous summers, New York beaches were often crowded and noisy, but now beachgoers face an additional concern: shark encounters. Along Long Island's southern coast, popular beaches are witnessing a surge in shark attacks.
Last month, several people, including two 15-year-olds, reported being bitten, and recently, a 65-year-old woman was seriously injured by a shark bite at Rockaway Beach in NYC. Fortunately, none of these attacks were fatal.
According to Vox, these incidents follow a record of eight confirmed shark bites last summer, possibly involving sand tiger sharks. Historically, no year in the last three decades had more than two confirmed shark bites in New York. Such incidents may reflect an increase in sharks, indicative of a thriving marine ecosystem and ample fish for sharks to feed on.
Shark expert Chris Paparo at Stony Brook University notes that sharks signify a healthy ecosystem and successful conservation efforts. Globally, shark and ray populations have plummeted by over 70% due to industrial fishing, which not only directly kills sharks but also depletes their food sources.
However, along the Eastern Seaboard, fisheries have adopted protective measures to preserve declining shark populations and their prey, while New York has improved river cleanliness flowing into the ocean.
Tobey Curtis from NOAA Fisheries noted that shark populations have indeed risen over the past years due to successful management and conservation efforts. While more sharks are a positive outcome, educating the public on coexisting with them remains a challenge.
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