Woman hospitalized following shark attack at New York beach

Aug. 8 (UPI) -- A woman was hospitalized Monday night after being attacked by a shark off New York City's Rockaway Beach, authorities said, making it the latest shark attack among a spate that have been reported in the state.

The FDNY told UPI in statement that emergency personnel were called to Rockaway Beach at 59th Street shortly before 6 p.m., arriving to find a woman suffering from serious but non-life-threatening injuries.

"EMTs treated a patient with injuries consistent with a shark bite," the statement said.

The woman has been identified by New York City's Department of Parks and Recreation in a statement Tuesday to UPI as a 50-year-old woman.

The department said she was bitten in the leg, and that she was transported to Jamaica hospital "in critical condition."

The department said authorities cleared the beach, and the NYPD canvassed the area via helicopter, but no shark was spotted.

There have been zero reports of shark bites on Rockaway Beach in recent memory, the department said.

"We hope for a full recovery for this swimmer. Though this was a frightening event, we want to remind New Yorkers that shark attacks in Rockaway are extremely rare. We remain vigilant in monitoring the beach and always clear the water when a shark is spotted," the department said.

Rockaway Beach remained closed to swimming and surfing Tuesday due to the recent shark activity. NYPD and Parks Enforcement patrolled the shore while FDNY and NYPD performed aerial surveillance of the beach to monitor for sharks.

The incident comes after at least three other people were attacked by sharks last month off Long Island.

On July 3, a 15-year-old surfer was bitten on his left foot, while two adults suffered shark bites the next day. None suffered life-threatening injuries, the Suffolk County Police Department said in a statement.

The spate of attacks has prompted Suffolk County officials to increase shark patrols, while New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced that shark-monitoring drones will be used to canvass beaches for the fish.