Shark Sighting Prompts Scare, Evacuation At Tobay Beach

MASSAPEQUA, N.Y. (CBSNewYork/AP) - A popular stretch of beach on Long Island was shut down for several hours Thursday after two sharks were spotted in the water.

Town of Oyster Bay spokeswoman Marta Kane says the incident occurred around noon Thursday.

Lifeguards on the east end of Tobay Beach spotted two sharks, blew the whistle and everybody was evacuated onto the sand.

About 2,000 people were at the beach at the time.

"It's certainly not a common thing for us to see sharks out at Tobay," Kane told 1010 WINS. "It's a pretty exciting day for everybody out at Tobay beach today."

These sharks were about 10 to 15 feet off the shore," said Frank Nocerino, Commissioner of Parks told CBS2's Tracee Carrasco. "They feel that there is a lot of bait in the water ... they're looking to eat."

Nassau County police launched their helicopter and spotted the six-foot shark with a smaller one behind it, Carrasco reported. The pair were following a school of fish.

Now there are growing concerns that there may be more.

The all clear was given two hours after the sighting with many people eager to get back into the water, Carrasco reported.

"When they opened the beach, there must have been 45 boys that yelled and ran into the water as if they were getting a prize or something," said Pat Quinto of Massapequa. "You could tell everybody was waiting to get back in."

Most people told Carrasco they have never seen a shark there before and worry they could see more as the summer goes on.

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