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Swimmer suffers severe leg injury in suspected shark attack at New York beach
🇬🇷 Greece /Conflict & Security

Swimmer suffers severe leg injury in suspected shark attack at New York beach

From Ta Nea · () Greek

Translated from Greek, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • A swimmer was seriously injured in a suspected shark attack at Jones Beach, New York, on Friday afternoon.
  • Witnesses described the scene as reminiscent of the movie "Jaws" as the shark bit the man's leg.
  • Lifeguards provided first aid, and the man was transported to a local hospital, with lifeguards expecting a full recovery.

A day at Jones Beach, New York, turned terrifying Friday afternoon when a swimmer suffered a severe injury from a suspected shark attack. The incident occurred around noon, with witnesses comparing the scene to the movie "Jaws" as the man was bitten on the leg.

He came running to the lifeguard tower... His leg was bleeding and he was screaming 'It bit me, it bit me! I don't want to look.'

— Kate MayoA lifeguard describes the moments after the swimmer reached her station.

Lifeguard Kate Mayo described the harrowing moments after the swimmer rushed to her station, bleeding and in distress. "He came running to the lifeguard tower... His leg was bleeding and he was screaming 'It bit me, it bit me! I don't want to look,'" Mayo recounted. She noted the sensation felt like a "jaw bite" that went "clean through the leg," leaving a deep wound that exposed bone.

The sensation was like a 'jaw bite,' that went 'clean through the leg.'

— Kate MayoThe lifeguard relays the injured swimmer's description of the attack.

Another lifeguard quickly applied a makeshift tourniquet using a shirt, but the bleeding intensified, soaking through the fabric. The injured man had been swimming within the designated safe area, not far from where fishermen typically cast their lines. Emergency services arrived promptly and took him to a local hospital. Despite the severity of the injury, lifeguards are optimistic about his full recovery.

The blood was going through the shirt. It was crazy, but it happens.

— Kate MayoThe lifeguard describes the escalating bleeding and the chaotic situation.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Ta Nea in Greek. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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