Shark Bite Reported at Assateague State Park Near Ocean City

A reported shark bite turned a Sunday morning at Assateague State Park into a scramble of sirens and flashing lights on May 17, as park rangers and local firefighters rushed to the beach. Crews from Assateague State Park and the Berlin Fire Company converged on the scene, which one ranger described as "very chaotic" while first responders worked on the reported victim. A law-enforcement officer who assisted at the scene was later airlifted to a trauma center with injuries described as not life-threatening.

On-scene response

According to The Baltimore Sun, both the Berlin Fire Company and Assateague State Park officials confirmed they had responded to the beach and were still investigating what happened as of about 2:30 p.m. The outlet reported that a photo from the scene was credited to the Maryland Natural Resources Police Facebook page, and a park ranger told reporters the beach felt "very chaotic" as first responders treated the injured person.

Medical response and uncertainty about the animal

CoastTV reported that the Maryland Department of Natural Resources could not immediately confirm whether a shark was involved in the incident. The person who initially reported the possible bite later refused medical treatment, the station said. Ocean City Fire Department paramedics assisted Berlin Fire Company crews on the beach, and the Maryland State Police Aviation Command flew the injured law-enforcement officer to a trauma center, according to the same report.

How common are shark encounters here?

Shark sightings in the waters off Assateague are not an everyday occurrence, but they are not exactly unheard of either. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources notes that several shark species inhabit this stretch of the Atlantic and that marine life, including sharks, can at times be spotted from the shore at the state park. A park ranger told The Baltimore Sun that this was the first shark sighting reported at the park this year.

Safety reminders for beachgoers

The National Park Service and state officials advise visitors to pay attention to posted warnings, avoid swimming at dawn and dusk, stay in groups, and skip the water entirely if they are bleeding. Beaches may be closed temporarily following a sighting. If you spot someone who is injured or see an aggressive animal in the water, officials say you should call 911 and move to safety while waiting for emergency crews to arrive.