A 20-year-old woman was swimming in waist-deep water at a popular beach in Long Island, New York, when officials believe she was most likely bitten by a young sand tiger shark earlier this week.

New York State Parks officials say the woman was waist-deep in the surf at the Central Mall beachfront on Wednesday afternoon when she reported being bitten by something in the water. Lifeguards and EMTs responded immediately as the swimmer suffered cuts to her left foot and leg.

As the Fourth of July holiday approaches and families are planning beach time, some people on Long Island have lingering fears of the ocean.