A Shark Bite Has Been Reported off Cape Cod in Truro
A 61-year-old man suffered puncture wounds at Longnook Beach.
June file photo of a great white off the Cape via Facebook/ Atlantic White Shark Conservancy
Officials in Truro have confirmed that a swimmer suffered a shark bite in the waters off Longnook Beach on Cape Cod in Truro Wednesday afternoon. A 61-year-old man suffered potentially serious puncture wounds to his leg, officials say.
The apparent attack happened about 30 feet offshore just before 4:15 p.m. and the victim was flown in a helicopter away from the scene for treatment at Tufts Medical Center in Boston, according to a press release from the Truro Police Department.
Photos from the scene appear to show fellow beachgoers working together to help the victim off of the sand.
Just a powerful image in Truro after a 61 year old is bitten by a shark. People on the beach and emergency workers doing every thing they can to get this man help. People are good. 🙏 For the victim. Thank you Mary Ellen for sharing the photo pic.twitter.com/R5etfWMpVO
— Maria Stephanos (@mariastephanos) August 16, 2018
Shark attacks are extremely rare, and only a minuscule number are documented each year. According to the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy, which studies sharks in the region, the last reported shark-related fatality in Massachusetts was in 1936. There has been an abundance of sightings of sharks off the Cape this summer, including one jaw-dropping video that showed a great white swimming toward a person standing on a paddle board before swimming away. Some of those cases have resulted in beach closures this season.
Atlantic White Shark Conservancy statement on Truro shark bite: pic.twitter.com/N7NVARNJtD
— Atlantic White Shark Conservancy (@A_WhiteShark) August 15, 2018
