The waters of Town Park at Point Lookout were evacuated on one of the hottest days of the week after a shark was sighted twice Thursday morning. Town Supervisor John Ferretti held an immediate news conference at the beach, just hours after the first sighting, to address the situation.
“In response to the shark sighting, the Town of Hempstead followed our specific protocol by immediately red-flagging all beaches until we can safely confirm that the shark has left our waters,” Ferretti said.
“The Town of Hempstead shark patrol was immediately deployed,” he continued, “And town lifeguards are currently scouring the waters with a drone and jet ski to follow this nine-foot shark.”
Ferretti said swimming would be prohibited until at least 1 p.m., at which point beachgoers would be gradually readmitted to the water — lifeguards will first allow knee-deep wading, progressing to waist-deep water, before resuming open swimming.
Eamon Flynn, a 23-year-old Lido Beach resident, was in the waterfront guard tower when the shark was first sighted. “At approximately 10 a.m., myself and another lifeguard were sitting in the stand when a third lifeguard came up to us and alerted us that a patron had spotted a shark,” Flynn said. “We scanned the water and instantly saw approximately an eight-foot shark cruising from east to west, right through our area, about 40, 45 yards offshore.”
Flynn, who has eight years of experience as a lifeguard at Town of Hempstead beaches, said they monitored the shark for roughly five minutes before it traveled too far to see. The lifeguards immediately instructed patrons to leave the area and the beach was closed. Flynn explained that lifeguards are specifically trained in fin identification and he believes it was a sandbar shark.
Ferretti explained that the shark was subsequently reported a second time, off the coast of Long Beach at approximately 11:30 a.m., extending the beach shutdown. Long Beach lifeguards deployed jet skis and searched the area without seeing the animal. Ocean Beach Park in Long Beach remained open.
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman announced the County’s support being provided to complement town beach lifeguards. “The assets that the county is putting forward at this time will be drones, and we will have Marine out there — our boats out in the water, “Blakeman explained. “In addition, we will have our Gators on the beaches travelling up and down the beaches monitoring the water. A little later on, we will have our helicopters up in the air to help with monitoring.” Blakeman said the County’s aviation unit is currently on an official hold due to the nearby air show at Jones Beach affecting safe air space.
Diane Lamonaca, a Garden City resident, arrived at Town Park at Point Lookout expecting to cool off as the temperature broke 90 degrees. She was unaware of the shark situation but was hopeful to continue with her beach day plans. “I want go in the water,” Lamonaca said. “At least, if we can stand ankle-deep because it’s so hot.”
Ferretti said monitoring will continue through the weekend to ensure safe waterways. “We’re going to be out there with our drones and our jet skis. We’re partnering with County Executive Bruce Blakeman to make sure that Nickerson, Malibu, Civic, Point Lookout — they are all patrolled. We will make sure our residents remain safe.”