BABYLON, N.Y. (WPIX) -
It was like a scene out of the horror flick "Jaws" Tuesday morning as a 20-foot-long basking shark washed up on the shore about 2 miles east of Gilgo Beach in Suffolk County.
The shark, which according to witnesses appeared to be in distress, was reportedly first spotted by a group of surfers about 50-feet off the shore around 8:45 a.m. It apparently circled for an hour and later washed up on shore where it died.
"It was flailing around and moving around," a witness told PIX News. "I guess it got caught up in the sandbar."
More than three dozen people crowded around the scene snapping photos and trying to get a glimpse of the big fish.
"I've never seen anything that big up close," said the witness. "I was surprised to see something like that here."
A marine biologist said the shark likely died from some sort of illness. It was initially believed the animal died from injuries it sustained from being struck by propellers from a boat, however there were no puncture wounds visible on the shark, which was barely breathing.
Officials said the shark did not have any teeth left in its mouth, and despite it's large size, did not pose a threat to people in the area since it usually feasts on plankton. In fact, experts say the basking shark, is commonly spotted in the waters off Long Island.
Experts did say however, its unusual for an ailing basking shark to wash ashore as they usually die in the ocean.
The shark, which according to witnesses appeared to be in distress, was reportedly first spotted by a group of surfers about 50-feet off the shore around 8:45 a.m. It apparently circled for an hour and later washed up on shore where it died.
"It was flailing around and moving around," a witness told PIX News. "I guess it got caught up in the sandbar."
More than three dozen people crowded around the scene snapping photos and trying to get a glimpse of the big fish.
"I've never seen anything that big up close," said the witness. "I was surprised to see something like that here."
A marine biologist said the shark likely died from some sort of illness. It was initially believed the animal died from injuries it sustained from being struck by propellers from a boat, however there were no puncture wounds visible on the shark, which was barely breathing.
Officials said the shark did not have any teeth left in its mouth, and despite it's large size, did not pose a threat to people in the area since it usually feasts on plankton. In fact, experts say the basking shark, is commonly spotted in the waters off Long Island.
Experts did say however, its unusual for an ailing basking shark to wash ashore as they usually die in the ocean.
