A woman is said to have been bitten by a shark at Jones Beach on Long Island in New York on Wednesday (June 25). The 20-year-old, who is yet to be publicly identified, was waist deep in the water around 4.15pm at the Central Mall beachfront of Jones Beach State Park when she reported being bitten by "unknown marine wildlife," the State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation said in a statement on Friday.

The woman sustained minor cuts to her left foot and leg, the statement added. Lifeguards and emergency workers responded, and the woman was transported to a hospital. Her injuries were not life-threatening, according to the statement. She did not see what caused her injuries, but biologists from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation concluded that the bite "most likely" involved a juvenile sand tiger shark.

The attack has been described as the first of the season at the New York beach and "hopefully the last," according to George Gorman, a regional director for the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, the New York Times reported.

Swimming at Jones Beach was suspended for the rest of the day on Wednesday as authorities used drones to search for dangerous marine life. The beach was then reopened on Thursday morning.

While a full consensus on the species of shark has not been reached, according to National Geographic, sand tiger sharks, also known as grey nurse sharks (Carcharias taurus), are carnivorous fish that can range in size from 6.5 to 10.5 feet and weigh up to 350 pounds (159kg). They display a mouthful of sharp teeth that protrude in all directions, even when the mouth is shut.

To reduce the risk of beachgoers coming into contact with sharks, New York parks officials have advised swimmers to avoid areas with seals, schools of fish, splashing fish, diving seabirds and murky water. Holidaymakers and locals should also avoid swimming at dawn, dusk and night and stay close to shore.

The bite in New York comes after a flurry of recent shark attacks reported at holiday hotspots. Earlier this month, a shark nearly severed the hand of a nine-year-old girl while she was snorkelling off the coast of Boca Grande in Florida. The girl was taken to Tampa General Hospital, where doctors were able to "put her hand back together," according to the family statement.

Then last week, two people, including a 12-year-old girl, were bitten on their legs on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. The young girl was airlifted to hospital in Savannah, Georgia.