Queens’ Rockaway Beach was temporarily closed for swimming due to shark sightings

Rockaway Beach (WABC) in Queens-Rockaway Beach was temporarily closed for a Saturday swim due to shark sightings in the area.

According to the New York City Parks Authority, beachers are not allowed to enter the water, but the promenade and shops remain open. They say they will reopen the beach when it’s safe.

That’s because heat waves keep the beach full and authorities continue to monitor shark activity with lifeguards, boats, helicopters, and drones.

16-year-old surfer Max Haynes, Bitten about 15-20 yards from Kismet Beach on Fire Island Wednesday night.

See previous story in video player above

He said he was bitten by his right foot and was playing with his friend James, pretending to be a shark, about 30 seconds before being attacked.

“We actually flipped each other off the board, scared each other, and we pretended to be sharks and grabbed each other’s feet in the water,” he said. “And suddenly, after 30 seconds, I was really confused.”

He suffered a cut of about 4 inches.

“I felt violently at my feet as if a bear trap would take me from below,” he said. “I felt like I had a broken leg.”

His doctor told him he was able to know the size of the shark’s jaw based on his bite, which led to an estimate that the shark is about 6 feet long. ..

It all came on the same day Dead great white shark Drifted in the Hamptons Quogue.

According to experts, warm and clean water means that sharks are approaching the shore.

Lifeguards are trained to find the characteristic fins of sharks.

Governor Kathy Hokul says more staff have been added to the beaches of New York State.

Long Island Aquarium expert Teddy Tilkin told Witness News that there are several key factors in surviving an encounter with a shark.

“Try to be as calm as possible and away from sharks,” Tilkin said.

He said he would swim away with as little splash as possible so that the shark wouldn’t feel injured or suffering.
“If they really wanted to chew and eat us, we would lose limbs and do more external damage to us from many attacks,” he said. “Because sharks are very powerful animals.”

Related | Shark alley?More sightings from the beaches of Long Island as swimmers urged attention

———-
* Deliver witness news
* Follow us on youtube
* Other local news
* Send us news tips
* Download the abc7NY app for breaking news alerts

Send tips and story ideas to Eyewitness News

Do you have breaking news tips or story ideas to cover? Please submit to Eyewitness News using the form below. If you want to attach a video or photo Terms of use apply.