Suspected shark bite injures swimmer's foot at Jones Beach

A swimmer suffered a severe foot injury in a suspected shark attack at Jones Beach State Park on Friday, July 3, 2026. The incident occurred around noon at Field 6 as large crowds gathered to escape extreme heat and watch a practice session for a holiday air show.

The victim, a man, approached a lifeguard stand bleeding from his foot, saying he had been bitten. Lifeguard Kate Maio, who treated him, described the injury as a single, deep gash across his toes that exposed the underlying bone. She said her partner initially wrapped the foot in a shirt to act as a tourniquet, but the wound soon began to bleed heavily. The man told lifeguards the bite felt like a jaw-biting motion that went clean through.

Emergency medical services transported the injured man to a local hospital. Officials described his injury as non-life-threatening, and lifeguards said they expected him to make a complete recovery.

The victim had been swimming near the edge of the designated safe area marked by green flags, positioning him close to where shoreline fishermen typically operate. Though he did not see what attacked him, another swimmer reported seeing a fin move away from the area immediately after the...