FIRE ISLAND, NY – Suffolk County officials closed a Long Island beach for swimming on Sunday after what they described as an unprecedented shark attack that injured a lifeguard.
The rescuer had been playing the role of a victim during a training exercise when the shark bit him in the chest and hand, Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone said at a press conference in the afternoon.
The attack took place around 10:15 a.m. at Smith Point Beach. The lifeguard was receiving stitches and in “very good humor,” Bellone said.
“If you have an encounter with a shark, this is probably the best scenario you could have,” Bellone said, adding that the rescuer received immediate treatment from other officials already involved in the training. “We’ve never had an incident like this. Hopefully we never do it again.”
Bellone said there was an additional shark sighting after the attack, although it was unclear if it was the same shark.
The beach was closed for swimming the rest of the day, but was expected to reopen Monday with officials monitoring the water to detect sharks.