TWO lifeguards and a 57-year-old swimmer have all been mauled by sharks in separate incidents at a popular New York coastline.
The latest attack occurred on Thursday during a lifeguard training session, marking the third such incident at popular beaches on New York’s Fire Island.
Since the end of June two lifeguards and a swimmer have been attacked by sharks in three separate incidents at popular New York beaches[/caption]
In the latest shark attack, 17-year-old lifeguard John Mullins encountered the shark while carrying out a lifeguard training exercise[/caption]
The teenager was bitten in the foot about 150 feet off short on New York’s Fire Island. The attack left him with bloody injuries[/caption]
The string of incidents involving lifeguards and beachgoers being attacked by sharks in New York started at the end of June.
Lifeguard John Mullins was mauled on July 7 on Ocean Beach, while another lifeguard, Zach Gallo, was attacked on July 3 near Smith Point Beach – about 20 miles east.
These attacks came after a 57-year-old was attacked while swimming on June 30 off Jones Beach, around 10 miles west of Ocean Beach.
In the most recent incident, the 17-year-old lifeguard Mullins, was about 150 feet offshore when he was bitten at 11 am on July 7, News 12 reports.
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The attack left him with foot injuries. He was taken to hospital, where he received multiple stitches.
“I didn’t really feel the bite at first,” Mullins said. “My adrenaline was rushing right away.
News 12 reported that Mullins seems to be recovering from the injury but is walking with a limp.
During the training exercise, Mullins was playing the role of the victim in need of a lifeguard’s help when ironically, lifeguards did have to help him when the shark attacked.
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“I was like ‘Oh my God, I’ve got to go,’ – it was crazy,” Mullins said. “I thought it was following me, so I was freaking out…”
After the attack, swimming at Ocean Beach on Fire Island was prohibited for an hour. Once it was allowed again, visitors could only go waist-deep in the water
The attack which took place on July 3 happened at Smith Point Beach in New York. Lifeguard Zach Gallo was bitten by a shark while completing the training exercise.
Like Mullins, Gallo also received stitches during his hospital trip.
In the Jones Beach attack, a 57-year-old man who has not been named publicly by police suffered lacerations to his right foot, the Gothamist reports.
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The New York attacks are among a string of recent maulings off the US coast.
Recently, a teen girl lost her leg after a shark attack at Keaton Beach in northwestern Florida.
