Shark bite at Jones Beach sends person to hospital, swimming halted, officials say

A shark bite sent a beachgoer to the hospital at Jones Beach on Friday, with officials saying swimming was halted for about an hour. Officials confirmed the person suffered a minor shark bite in the water at Field 6 around noon, prompting lifeguards to stop swimming until it was deemed safe again. Friday is expected to be busy due to the Fourth of July weekend and a full-length practice for the upcoming Jones Beach Air Show scheduled for Sunday. The incident came one day after multiple shark sightings led Long Island and New York City beaches to briefly close. On Thursday, lifeguards at Point Lookout spotted an approximately 8-foot shark about 40–45 yards offshore; the Town of Hempstead Shark Patrol tracked it using a drone and watercraft. No bites were reported on Thursday.