Two NY teens bitten; authorities suspect sharks

Two teens on New York's Long Island were attacked – at separate beaches – this week by what authorities believe were sharks swimming near shore.

At Kismet Beach on Fire Island Monday, police say a 15-year-old boy was surfing when he was bitten. He had puncture wounds to his left heel and toes.

"He was able to swim to shore where our Marine Bureau and a good Samaritan were able to assist him getting some assistance and get him over to a local hospital where he's recovering," said Rodney K. Harrison, Suffolk County police commissioner.

About seven miles away, at Robert Moses State Park, a 15-year-old girl was treated for three, small bite wounds on her left leg. It's not known what bit her.

A parks service drone flew over the water but was not able to detect any "dangerous marine life," including sharks, in the area.

Although shark attacks on people are very rare, there have been multiple encounters this summer, including three in Florida in a little over a week.

Most of the bites in Florida occur on the state's Atlantic coast. Scientists attribute this to the proximity of the Gulf stream to the shore, significant waves, congestion of surfers and swimmers and the large schools of sharks in the area.

Near Long Island, there's been an recent increase of tiger and sand sharks swimming closer to shore.

Harrison warns, "If you see something that looks like some type of shark or one of these bunker fish that the swim in these pods, it's probably a good idea to leave the water and notify some type of authority."

To avoid shark bites, beachgoers should avoid swimming between dusk and dawn, swimming where people are fishing, swimming alone, and swimming around large schools of fish.