Possible Shark Sighting Closes Coney Island Beach on Tuesday

CONEY ISLAND, NY — A possible shark sighting has temporarily closed stretches of Coney Island Beach to swimmers, the parks department confirmed Tuesday morning.

“Out of an abundance of safety, Parks closes beaches to swimmers when sharks are in the immediate area,” parks department spokeswoman Crystal Howard said. “Because sharks have been sighted in certain areas of Coney Island Beach today, Parks has closed specific stretches of beach and will continue to monitor the situation.”

Coney Island lifeguards will keep the water clear until they have confirmed that a shark isn’t swimming in the water, Howard said.

Howard added that beachgoers should follow lifeguard instructions and should always leave the ocean immediately if they see something suspicious.

Top image courtesy of Steven Pisano/Flickr