Suffolk County officials temporarily closed beaches at Smith Point Park County and neighboring Cupsog Beach County Park to swimming Sunday after a shark bit a lifeguard, the second shark attack off Long Island waters in three days.
Beaches are expected to reopen early Monday, with large crowds expected for the Fourth of July holiday.
“Our expectation is that tomorrow morning, the Fourth of July, the beach will be open again,” Bellone said Sunday during a news conference at Smith Point.
Lifeguard Zach Gallo was training off Smith Point Beach in Shirley about 10:15 a.m. Sunday when a 4- to 5-foot shark bit him on the chest, Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone said.
Gallo, a 10-year veteran lifeguard, was playing the role of the victim in the lifesaving exercise when he was attacked by a shark, Bellone said. The shark also bit Gallo’s right arm as he tried to fight it off. Gallo made it to shore with the help of other lifeguards who were also participating in the training, Bellone said.
The rescuer was taken to South Shore University Hospital for stitches and treatment.
“Fortunately, he’s doing well,” Bellone said.
Shark attacks off the coast of Long Island are rare, according to officials. A shark was spotted near Smith Point Beach shortly after the attack, Bellone said, although it was unclear if it was the shark that attacked the lifeguard.
The beaches will be closed to swimming the rest of Sunday and will reopen at 10 a.m. Monday, and Bellone said people looking to celebrate the Fourth of July holiday at the beaches shouldn’t worry too much about Sunday’s attack. Suffolk lifeguards will use jet skis, paddle boards and drones to patrol for sharks, in addition to watching from shore.
“People should feel very comfortable and safe when they go out on our beaches,” Bellone said.
A 37-year-old man was swimming off Jones Beach at 1 p.m. Thursday when he was bitten on the right leg, possibly by a shark, Nassau police said Friday. Medics from the police department’s Bureau of Emergency Ambulance responded and identified the injury as a possible shark bite, authorities said.
The man, who has not been identified, was taken to Nassau University Medical Center in East Meadow, where he was treated for his injury, according to Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman. An update Sunday on his condition was not immediately available.
Michael O’Keefe covers the Suffolk County Police and other law enforcement agencies on Long Island. He is an award-winning journalist and co-author of two books, The Map and American Icon.
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