Sharks, dangerous rip currents haunt many on Long Island beaches

Lido Beach, New York — Long Island has new beach safety warnings.

At least five people reportedly got bitten by sharks this weekthere is also a concern. rip current.

The mother of an athletics high school student who died in a rip current in Mexico several years ago spoke Wednesday at Nickerson Beach.she with her Nassau County Officer Bruce Blakeman I am on an educational patrol.

“The odds of being bitten by a shark are one in a million, maybe more, but the odds of being caught in a rip current are much, much, much higher,” Blakeman said.

View Jennifer Macrogan’s report

Nassau County beaches have designated July as Rip Current Awareness Month. Data show that 71 swimmers across the United States will die in rip currents this year.

Josephine de Moura garden city I know pain all too well. Her talented gymnast daughter, Alexandra, was caught in her rip and didn’t know what to do.

“If I can save a family from what I and my family are going through, this is my mission,” de Moura said. “Knowledge is power.”

Alexandra De Moura was an elite athlete at Garden City High School and George Washington University. An executive order signed in her name would require all beaches in Nassau County to post signs explaining how to survive rip currents. Experts say swim parallel to the shore until you lose your grip on the shore. Most importantly, don’t fight it.

Word spread Wednesday afternoon about the five and sharks were on the minds of Long Islanders. bite Victims off the coast — in Quogue and Robert Moses State Park and on fire island — Within 48 hours.

Two teenagers, two men and one woman have recovered, including 15-year-old Peter Bankuri of North Babylon who was bitten while surfing off Fire Island.

“When I was trying to ride a wave on my surfboard, I felt a very strong pull in my ankle. It almost felt like a bear trap. My first reaction at that time was to get out of the water as quickly as possible. ” said Bankri.

CBS New York caught up with Bankuri via Zoom as he recovers after being discharged from the hospital and back on Fire Island with his family.

“When I got to the beach for the first time, my legs really started to spurt blood,” Bankuri said.

His friend Joseph Calhoun saw the shark and helped guide Bankuri to shore.

“It all happened so quickly. I can only hope and pray for a speedy recovery and discharge from the hospital,” said Calhoun.

Safety awareness and encouragement are needed.

Asked when he planned to return to the sea, Bankuri said: “As soon as I am fully recovered. I would like to return as soon as possible. My mother is very worried about me.”

A swimmer’s risk of dying from a shark attack is about 1 in 4 million, and experts say sharks are more interested in fish than people.

“If we’re on their menu, we’re definitely out of luck,” said Craig O’Connell, executive director of the O’Sees Conservation Foundation.

So why are shark sightings on the rise?

Greg Metzger, of the Shark Research and Education Program at the Southfork Nature Center, said: “The reality is that more and more sharks are being videotaped and televised. So this is more perception than reality. It’s nothing more than that,” he said. “Sharks are always here. The perception that there are more sharks now than ever before is because there are far more people looking for them.”

He said swimmers should proceed with caution, but not live in fear.

“A lot of people would say, what if you see that dorsal fin in the water?” asked CBS New York’s Dick Brennan.

“Yes, I mean, your best bet is to stay calm and get out of the water as much as you can…animals attack to protect themselves or to get food. If we were trying to do that, the wounds would be much more severe than they are now,” Metzger said.

Metzger said some of the victims may have been bitten by baby sharks that weren’t quite sure what they were eating.

All victims of the last two days will recover. Of course, there are many stories to tell.

Eight attacks occurred in the summer of 2022. This summer is already going to be busy.

click here Check out this list of beach safety tips from the nonprofit Ocearch.