A man’s injuries to his hand while swimming off Ventnor beach on Sunday morning may have been caused by a shark, said officials.
According to news reports, Ventnor City Beach Patrol reported that the man was injured while in the water, potentially from a shark bite to his hand. He was taken to the hospital for treatment and is expected to be OK.
Authorities have not yet confirmed that it was a shark attack. No sharks were spotted in the area at the time of the injury.
Beachgoers have been warned to only enter the water up to their knees until further notice from local officials.
The incident happened around 9:30 a.m. at Surrey Avenue Beach in Ventnor.
Shark attacks in New Jersey
The last known shark attack at the Jersey Shore was reported in 2023 when 15-year-old Maggie Drozdowski of Pennsylvania was bitten and pulled underwater while surfing in Stone Harbor.
The teen managed to wrangle her foot out of the shark’s jaws, get back on her surfboard and paddle back to shore. She suffered an injury that required stitches to her foot and calf.
The type of shark was not identified.
According to the International Shark Attack File, there have only been a confirmed 16 unprovoked shark attacks in New Jersey to date, indicating it is very rare.
Shark sightings at the Jersey Shore on the rise
Recent sightings at Jersey beaches have raised awareness about shark safety.
A recent video taken by beachgoers at Cape May Point showed a shark swimming in shallow water, leaving the visitors frightened and in awe of the big fish.
The Cape May Whale Watch and Research Center said it was difficult to identify the species of that shark, however, said the hammerhead sharks tend to be seen near New Jersey beaches.
Multiple videos have surfaced of similar incidents at other Jersey Shore locations.
Another recent sighting in July was reported by fishermen who managed to capture photos of a great white shark about 22 miles from the Atlantic City shoreline.
In June, a man and his daughter took a close-up photo of a great white shark about 4 miles off the coast of Point Pleasant Beach.
What types of sharks swim in New Jersey’s waters?
New Jersey’s coast is home to various types of sharks, where they also breed. These are some of the most common sharks that can be found at the Jersey Shore.
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Sandbar sharks
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Sand tiger sharks
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Great white sharks
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Smooth dogfish sharks
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Blacktip sharks
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Thresher sharks
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Mako sharks
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Blue sharks
This article originally appeared on USATNetwork: Swimmer injured in possible shark bite at New Jersey beach
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