(New York, NY) — Queens beach goers, you might want to reschedule your next beach visit— It’s unclear yet when Rockaway Beach and Jacob Riis Park will reopen to swimmers.
The closure comes after a devastating shark attack on a 65-year-old woman that reportedly took 20 pounds of flesh off of her. Hans Walters with New York Aquarium analyzed the attack, claiming the shark was likely confused during feeding time, and the woman got “caught in the crossfire.”
The victim was hospitalized and is in serious but stable condition.
Officials are using drones to survey the waters off Rockaway Beach to look for sharks. According to Walters, one clue that might point to sharks that officials are looking for is a disruption in water caused by ripples along with Seagulls diving down on the water.
On Tuesday, a shark was sighted near Breezy Point, Queens, about a mile-and-a-half west of where the woman was attacked. Also on Tuesday, much of Jones Beach, about 12 miles east was closed to swimming due to at least two shark sightings.
The Parks Department is still deciding whether to open New York City beaches.
77 WABC’s Michael Lamorte has more:
