An Arizona man was wading in the water at Seaview Beach on Fire Island Wednesday evening when a shark attacked him from behind, according to Suffolk County Police.
The unidentified 49-year-old was in waist-deep water when the shark bit him on the buttock and his left wrist at about 6 p.m. He was able to walk out of the water.
The Suffolk County Police Marine Bureau responded to the scene.
The man was transported by SCPD helicopter to Stony Brook University Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Seaview is located between Ocean Beach and Ocean Bay Park.
Earlier in the morning on Wednesday, another individual reported being bitten by a shark at Smith Point Park beach —prompting officials to close the beach.
“Smith Point Beach is once again closed to swimming due to a shark bite that occurred earlier this morning,” Suffolk County Executive Steve Belone said during a press conference.
The surfer suffered a four-inch gash on his leg, Bellone said.
The shark was identified by the victim as a tiger shark that was about four feet long. The surfer was taken by ambulance to Long Island Community Hospital in East Patchogue.
To the east and off Fire Island, boats and helicopters were also out patrolling the beach at Cupsogue Beach in Westhampton Beach, according to some witnesses who were out that day.
Zach Gallo, a lifeguard at Smith Point, was also attacked by a shark only 10 days ago.
“I think it’s an indication … that what we’re looking at is something of a new normal,” Bellone said, adding it was fortunate none of the reported attacks resulted in major injuries.
AP Photo: Beach goers walk past the TWA Flight 800 International Memorial at Smith Point County Park on Fire Island, N.Y., Friday, July 5, 2013. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)
