Surfer OK after shark bite at Jersey Shore; here is how to lower your risk with sharks

Dan Radel, Asbury Park Press
·2 min read
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STONE HARBOR - A surfer from Pennsylvania was bit by a shark Sunday afternoon while surfing at the borough's 109th Street Beach, officials there said.

The surfer, a 15-year-old girl whose name has not been released by officials there, sustained injuries that are "consistent with a bite by shark," officials said. The bite occurred at about 3 p.m. and she sustained several lacerations to her left foot and calf. The type of shark is not known by officials.

The Princeton-based Shark Research Institute has identified her as Maggie Drozdowski. The institute, which keeps records of historic shark attacks, listed the bite as unprovoked.

She received immediate onsite medical treatment from Stone Harbor Fire & Rescue. She was then taken to Cape Regional Medical Center for further evaluation and care, where she received six stitches. The injuries were assessed as not life-threatening, officials said.

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The Stone Harbor Police Department is collaborating with local marine life experts and professionals in an ongoing effort to determine the exact cause of the surfer's wounds. After examination, the New Jersey State Southern Regional Medical Examiner’s Office said that the injuries sustained by the surfer are consistent with those typically associated with a shark of unknown size and type.

At this time, no restrictions on beach activities are planned. However, borough officials urge all beachgoers to exercise caution and adhere to any safety guidelines issued by local authorities. This incident serves as a reminder of the potential risks associated with water activities in areas where marine life thrives.

According to the International Shark Attack File Beach Injuries and Fatalities Report, the odds of a shark attack in the United States are 1 in 11.5 million. However low the risk, officials in Stone Harbor encourage all visitors to remain vigilant.

"The local police and fire departments are fully committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of both residents and tourists. They are taking appropriate measures to thoroughly assess the situation and provide necessary updates to the public,” Mayor Judy Davies-Dunhour said in a prepared statement.

Prior to Sunday's incident, the most recent shark bite in New Jersey waters was in 2013 at Bay Head where a 16-year-old bodyboarder's fin was nipped by a shark, according to the Shark Research Institute's Global Shark Attack File.

Swim safe

To lower one's risk of a shark bite, the institute recommends the following:

  • Do not swim alone, too far from shore or at night.

  • Avoid murky or turbid water.

  • Stay out of the water if birds and fish are actively feeding.

  • Dolphins are not an indication that sharks are not present. In fact, it's quite the opposite, as dolphins and sharks do feed on the same prey.

When Jersey Shore native Dan Radel is not reporting the news, you can find him in a college classroom where he is a history professor. Reach him @danielradelapp; 732-643-4072; dradel@gannettnj.com.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Stone Harbor shark attack: PA teenager OK after being bitten