A roughly 9-foot shark cruising off Point Lookout on Thursday morning was all it took to shut down swimming along the Town of Hempstead shoreline. Lifeguards quickly blew whistles, pulled swimmers from the surf and watched as a specialized shark patrol swept the inlet. Town officials scheduled a midday briefing for nervous beachgoers, and there were no reports of anyone being hurt.
Town of Hempstead lifeguards reported spotting the animal at about 10 a.m., then immediately slapped red "no swimming" flags on Point Lookout and nearby stretches of beach, according to News 12 | Long Island. As part of the response, the town said it deployed its shark patrol unit, using a drone overhead and a jet ski in the water to scan the area.
Multiple lifeguards and beachgoers backed up the sighting, and a lifeguard in Point Lookout's main chair was the first to zero in on the fin, NBC New York reported. The outlet noted that the town supervisor was expected to join that lifeguard at a Thursday media briefing to walk through what happened and how officials responded.
Hempstead's shark patrol on alert
The town's shark patrol, a unit that uses personal watercraft and aerial drones alongside traditional lifeguard posts, has become a familiar sight after an uptick in shark reports over recent seasons. Following Thursday's scare, crews sent a drone and a jet ski through Jones Inlet and surrounding waters to search for the shark, as News 12 | Long Island noted.
Beach safety tips
The Town of Hempstead urges swimmers to stay near lifeguard stands, respect red-flag closures and follow posted rip-current advice at ocean beaches. According to the Town of Hempstead, lifeguards are on duty every day and advise anyone caught in a rip current to swim parallel to the shoreline and signal for a lifeguard's help.
Town officials said they would reevaluate water conditions before letting anyone back in and planned a noon press conference to share updates, as NBC New York reported. Until crews give the all-clear, lifeguards are reminding beachgoers that a red flag means no swimming, no exceptions.
