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Rockaway Beach reopens after woman hospitalized from shark bite
By
Michelle Bocanegra
Published Aug 9, 2023
Modified Aug 9, 2023
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By
Michelle Bocanegra
Published Aug 9, 2023
Modified Aug 9, 2023
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Rockaway Beach reopened for swimming on Wednesday, a day after city officials closed off the popular summer destination to swimmers following an apparent shark attack that left a woman hospitalized.
As of 10 a.m. Wednesday, swimming in normally permitted areas resumed after the city closed the beach in its entirety on Tuesday. Shortly before the beaches were reopened, fire officials reported that a potential shark sighting off the Rockaway Peninsula took place off the Rockaway Peninsula just a day prior, but added that none had been sighted since.
A 65-year-old swimmer was standing in the water near Beach 59th Street on Monday evening when she “felt a sharp pain to her lower left leg causing her to fall backwards into the water,” according to police officials. Lifeguards applied a tourniquet to her leg and took her to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center.
Scott Curatolo-Wagemann, a marine biologist on Long Island’s east end and an investigator with the Global Shark Attack File, said the incident was a cause for concern.
“Definitely within the last two years, the numbers are higher than they had been in a while," said Curatolo-Wagemann, referring to unconfirmed shark bite reports.
Curatolo-Wagemann cautioned that other sea creatures, like bluefish, may be behind some reported bites.
First Deputy Fire Commissioner Joseph Pfeifer said on Wednesday that drones, police and fire boats would be deployed to scan the waters off the peninsula prior to opening each morning until the end of the swimming season.
“If we spot a shark, we will make a decision to close the beach,” Pfeifer said early Wednesday.
A spokesperson for the fire department said they could not provide updates on the injured woman’s condition.
A statement attributed to the woman's family expressed gratitude for the public support she has received, said she is "grateful to be alive" and asked for privacy as she recovers from her injuries.
This story has been updated with information provided on behalf of the woman's family.
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Michelle Bocanegra
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