Terrifying moment five 12ft sharks hunt in packs near NYC beaches before launching brutal attack | The Sun
THIS is the terrifying moment five 12ft sharks were spotted hunting in packs near New York's infamous Fire Island beaches before launching a brutal attack.
The underwater beasts can be seen hatching a plan on how to ambush a school of bunker fish to secure a substantial snack.
Photographer Duncan Weir captured an extraordinary aerial shot of the sharks' antics as they stalked the clear waters.
He shared the eerie footage, shot near the Atlantique Beach in Islip, New York, amid a concerning spike in sightings and a string of attacks.
The ferocious fivesome can be seen rallying together to take out their unsuspecting prey, who were around 200yards from shore.
The sharks spread out, close to the water's surface, to ensure they would approach from all angles for a "feeding frenzy".
Experts at OCEARCH, an organization that collects data on the oceans, suggested sharks have gained the confidence to get closer to dry land in pursuit of a meal.
Founder and expedition leader Chris Fischer told Fox: "The real increase in shark sightings is because of the return of the bunker."
Bunker fish – also known as menhaden – swim in large schools close to the water's surface during the spring summer and fall months.
The silver-skinned creatures, dubbed "the most important fish in the sea", are often spotted being pursued by swarms of sharks.
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Fischer added: "The way the sharks hunt menhaden is that they push them up against the beach.
"They crowd them against the beach, and then they start to take turns darting through them to feed."
The sharks in the clip can be seen using these intimidation tactics as they head toward the fish before taking a bite.
Americans have been warned to stay vigilant when visiting beaches along the coastline after a series of shark attacks in Long Island.
At least six shark attacks have been reported in the past few weeks, though none of them have been fatal.
One 16-year-old victim, Max Haynes, was surfing on Fire Island when he felt one of the beasts chomp on his foot just 45 feet from the shoreline at Kismet Beach.
He told The Post: "I felt something on my foot like a bear trap, just get me from below. It went straight for my foot and clamped down."
SHARK ATTACKS
Shawn Donnelly, 41, was knocked off his surfboard when a sand tiger shark attacked off the coast of Smith Point Beach on July 13.
He was left with a four-inch gash wound to the leg after punching the shark to fend off the beast.
And a 49-year-old tourist from Arizona was attacked by a shark at Seaview Beach on the same day.
According to the New York Post, police said the "shark came up from behind and bit him on the left wrist and buttocks."
John Mullins, 17, who was participating in lifeguard training, was attacked by a shark on July 7.
Lifeguard Zach Gallo, 33, was also bitten while he was doing training exercises at Smith Point Beach on July 3.
Last week, a great white shark carcass washed up on a beach in Quogue Village. It was 7 to 8 feet long.
Several south shore beaches have been closed due to the sightings.
We previously told how a shocking map revealed the US states you are most likely to be mauled by a shark – and why a "hit and run" attack is most common.
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