Crime & Safety
Shark Sighting Prompts Informal 'No Swim' Order
No one was hurt Tuesday after a shark was seen swimming in 4-foot-deep water not far off a local beach, but the state did make a special recommendation.
State officials have confirmed that a shark was in fact found swimming in the waters off Wallis Sands State Park between 1:30 and 1:45 p.m. Tuesday.
Amy Bassett, the spokesperson for the New Hampshire Division of Parks and Recreation, told Patch in an e-mail that the shark was sighted swimming "in about 4 feet of water about 25-30 feet off shore and was seen in the area for about 5 minutes" Tuesday afternoon.
Bassett said lifeguards and park staff "immediately evacuated swimmers from the water" and limited ocean access to ankle-deep water after the shark "swam away."
Officials couldn't determine what type of shark was seen, according to Bassett.
No one was harmed Tuesday afternoon, although the state urged caution.
"It is recommended that beach goers... should not swim in the water [Tuesday night]," said Bassett in the e-mail. "The park will open as usual [Wednesday]. NH Marine Patrol and the US Coast Guard are patrolling the waters.
Last year, there was a likely blue shark sighting at Wallis Sands. Seabrook recently also had a possible shark sighting, although it turned out to be a large sunfish.
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