NARRAGANSETT, R.I. (WHDH) - A Rhode Island beach was temporarily closed to swimmers on Thursday afternoon after a confirmed thresher shark sighting, officials said.
The thresher shark was spotted by beachgoers along Narragansett Town Beach when its large tail fin jutted out of the water. Experts say threshers have tail fins that can be as long as their body.
“Out of 900 attacks in the filed, not a single one has been a thresher. It doesn’t mean they don’t have teeth and it doesn’t mean they can’t hurt you,” said Atlantic Shark Institute Executive Director Jon Dodd. “But in terms of an attack, not one reported ever. So I think people are relatively safe.”
The shark remained along the beach for approximately one hour. After it swam away, swimmers were allowed back in the water.
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