Just when residents of Amity Island thought they were safe once again, a third shark attack sent the island back into terror.
James Parks, a 30-year-old resident of Oaks Bluffs was attacked and killed at about 1:30 p.m. on July 4th.
Many details of the attack are not clear yet, but police believe that Parks was killed when his rowboat was attacked and he was thrown into the water.
So far, a severed leg is the only remain that has been found.
Just after the joyous reopening of the island's beaches, the police department has once again ordered them closed until further notice.
Monday, December 3, 2012
Shark update
Just when residents of Amity thought the danger of shark attacks was behind them, a fun-filled day at the beach turned to a terrifying event that sent beachgoers shooting for shore. A local was enjoying herself in the water when she spotted a shark fin swimming beside her. Her piercing scream alerted swimmers around her, who immediately began to flee the water.
It was determined shortly after that the fin was not that of a real shark, but of two young children playing some sort of prank.
It was determined shortly after that the fin was not that of a real shark, but of two young children playing some sort of prank.
Caught
This year, the usually warm and fun-filled month of June was taken over by the presence of an unwelcome and vicious sea creature.
After the shark gruesomely claimed the lives of two of Amity Island's young residents, townspeople held a meeting on July 3rd to discuss what would be done about the vicious beast.
During the meeting, a townsperson cried out, "Are you going to close the beaches?"
This question brought a sudden silence over the room as all eyes turned to Police Chief, Martin Brody.
"Yes," Brody sighed. "We are."
The small room remained silent as residents of Amity let the words of their Police Chief sink in. For an island that thrives on tourism and the beauty of it's many beaches, this news was difficult to process.
Fortunately for the islanders, the killer shark was unexpectedly caught the following day by a local fishermen just one mile southwest of Amity.
The beast was brought to shore and immediately inspected by Matt Hooper, a marine biologist from the Ocenographic Institute in Woods Hole, Mass.
Hooper, an expert on sharks, determined it to be a Nurse Shark.
According to National Geographic, Nurse Sharks are not usually dangerous to humans. However they can be very large in size and are known to have very strong jaws. Although they do not commonly attack humans, they sometimes bite defensively if stepped on or bothered in some way.
Although it is still not clear what provoked this particular shark to gruesomely kill two of Amity's residents, Brody issued a press release in response to the shark's capture, in which he stated, "of course all the beaches will throughout our beautiful island will reopen immediately."
While there will be shark spotters stationed on the beaches, Brody has assured the press that "they are simply a safety precaution," and "islanders and guests alike should not be alarmed."
Nothing can be done about the two lives claimed in this tragic event, islanders hope to move forward and eventually put this all behind them. As Brody put it in his press release, "we believe we can safely say that the danger of further shark attacks has probably passed. Amity's darkest days are behind us."
After the shark gruesomely claimed the lives of two of Amity Island's young residents, townspeople held a meeting on July 3rd to discuss what would be done about the vicious beast.
During the meeting, a townsperson cried out, "Are you going to close the beaches?"
This question brought a sudden silence over the room as all eyes turned to Police Chief, Martin Brody.
"Yes," Brody sighed. "We are."
The small room remained silent as residents of Amity let the words of their Police Chief sink in. For an island that thrives on tourism and the beauty of it's many beaches, this news was difficult to process.
Fortunately for the islanders, the killer shark was unexpectedly caught the following day by a local fishermen just one mile southwest of Amity.
The beast was brought to shore and immediately inspected by Matt Hooper, a marine biologist from the Ocenographic Institute in Woods Hole, Mass.
Hooper, an expert on sharks, determined it to be a Nurse Shark.
According to National Geographic, Nurse Sharks are not usually dangerous to humans. However they can be very large in size and are known to have very strong jaws. Although they do not commonly attack humans, they sometimes bite defensively if stepped on or bothered in some way.
Although it is still not clear what provoked this particular shark to gruesomely kill two of Amity's residents, Brody issued a press release in response to the shark's capture, in which he stated, "of course all the beaches will throughout our beautiful island will reopen immediately."
While there will be shark spotters stationed on the beaches, Brody has assured the press that "they are simply a safety precaution," and "islanders and guests alike should not be alarmed."
Nothing can be done about the two lives claimed in this tragic event, islanders hope to move forward and eventually put this all behind them. As Brody put it in his press release, "we believe we can safely say that the danger of further shark attacks has probably passed. Amity's darkest days are behind us."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)