Woman’s Life Saved by Heroic Lifeguards Using Sweatpants Tourniquet in Shark Attack
A woman swimming alone at Rockaway Beach in New York City had a terrifying encounter with a shark that left her with a severe leg injury. Luckily, two hero lifeguards, Bill McDonnell and Romeo Ortiz, acted swiftly and were able to save her life by using sweatpants as a makeshift tourniquet.
The 65-year-old woman, whose identity has not been disclosed, was in the water just before 6 pm on Monday when the shark attacked, biting her left leg. The shark’s bite resulted in a deep and wide wound, as captured in a photo shared with The Associated Press.
Upon hearing the woman’s screams, McDonnell and Ortiz immediately sprang into action. They quickly pulled her out of the water and utilized sweatpants and a rope from an orange rescue float to create a tourniquet, effectively stopping the bleeding. McDonnell’s mother, Janet McDonnell, expressed her appreciation for the lifeguards’ quick thinking and credited their actions with saving the woman’s life.
The injured woman was rushed to Jamaica Hospital, where she is currently listed as being in stable condition, according to a hospital spokesperson. The lifeguards’ resourcefulness and the timely intervention of senior lifeguards who were present at the scene played a vital role in ensuring the woman’s survival. Without their immediate response, the outcome could have been far more tragic.
Witnesses described the scene as terrifying, with chunks of flesh washing up on the beach as the injured woman struggled to make her way back to shore. While incidents involving sharks are rare at Rockaway Beach, the Parks spokeswoman, Meghan Lalor, assured the public that vigilant monitoring of the beach would continue and that water would be cleared whenever a shark was spotted.
Experts believe that recent conservation efforts and an increase in the population of bait fish have drawn sharks closer to New York’s shores, resulting in more frequent sightings and minor bites. However, this recent incident stands out as the most serious shark attack in New York waters since the 1950s. Gavin Naylor, the program director of the International Shark Attack File at the University of Florida, identified the bite pattern as consistent with that of a juvenile white shark, though it could also have been from a bull shark or sandbar shark.
It is important to note that sharks play a crucial role in marine ecosystems, and incidents like these should not incite fear or panic. While precautions are necessary, it is essential to remember that shark attacks are incredibly rare, and overall, the risk to swimmers remains minimal.
Rockaway Beach, a popular destination often attracting over 100,000 visitors in a single day, was closed the day after the attack but has since reopened. Officials are maintaining a vigilant stance to ensure the safety of beachgoers, implementing necessary measures whenever shark sightings occur.
As we reflect on this incident, we extend our gratitude to the courageous lifeguards who risked their own safety to save a life. Their quick thinking, adaptability, and selfless actions serve as a testament to the invaluable role they play in protecting beachgoers. Let this incident remind us all of the importance of beach safety and the need for continued efforts to coexist responsibly with the wildlife that inhabits our oceans.
