ROCKAWAY BEACH, NEW YORK: Rockaway Beach lifeguards demonstrated quick thinking and bravery as they sprang into action to rescue a swimmer from a brutal shark attack on Monday, August 7. According to their superior, Chief Lifeguard Jose Diaz, the lifeguards' prompt response included fashioning a tourniquet using a buoy rope to staunch the bleeding and save the victim's life.
Chief Lifeguard Jose Diaz recounted the heroic actions of his team at Beach 59th Street the day before. The victim, Tatyana Koltunyuk, 65, a frequent beachgoer and acquaintance of the lifeguard staff, suffered a severe leg injury while swimming near the shore.
Diaz emphasized the pivotal role of the lifeguards in saving Koltunyuk, stating, "The lifeguards really saved her. Really." Koltunyuk, who was only about 10 feet offshore at the time, was suddenly attacked by a shark that bit down on her left leg just above the knee.
Who is Tatsuya Koltyunuk?
Hailing from Ukraine, Koltunyuk's urgent pleas for help prompted an immediate response from the vigilant lifeguards. "We saw that she was bitten," Chief Lifeguard Diaz recounted.
"The blood was coming out a lot so they gave her a tourniquet with the buoy, which has a rope, and they tied it so she doesn't bleed to death," he added. The lifeguard who tied the improvised tourniquet was personally acquainted with Koltunyuk and often engaged in conversation with her.
Shaneka Thomas, a Parks Department employee who witnessed the attack, noted that despite the gruesome wound, Koltunyuk remained relatively "calm" once the lifeguards attended to her. “They were trying to … talk to her,” said Thomas.
“There was a lot of commotion. I still think that she was in shock because I don’t think she even responded to them. She was mumbling. She seemed calm once they laid her down,” he added.
The severity of the attack was evident in the extent of Koltunyuk's injuries. She lost approximately 20 pounds of flesh due to the shark bite, marking the first such incident at Rockaway Beach in 70 years.
Diaz recounted the distressing scene, stating, "She lost a lot of blood. The artery came right out. You could see the bones and everything. It was crazy."
'This is the first time this happened!'
Chief Lifeguard Diaz, who returned to lifeguard duty this summer after retiring due to a lifeguard shortage, highlighted the unprecedented nature of the attack. Having lifeguarded for 53 years, he emphasized the rarity of such incidents and the shock it has caused in the community.
“We go swimming like every other day. We go swimming with the lifeguards and we see sharks but they don’t really do anything to us. This is the first time this happened. It’s weird. Everybody’s afraid to go into the water now. I don’t blame them,” he said.
Koltyunuk was taken to Jamaica Hospital, where staff said she was in stable but critical condition Tuesday. The exact species of shark responsible for the attack remains uncertain, although teeth marks on the victim's leg indicate a bull or thresher shark, as per a source familiar with the situation.
Following the attack, lifeguards have been instructed to follow the guidance of the NYPD and FDNY, with the beach temporarily closed to swimmers.
Chief Lifeguard Diaz noted the evolving situation, saying, "They say everything is clear, we let the people back in the water. Nothing is open. The City will be like, 'let's open up the beach,' and then that's it." The incident has left a lasting impact on the community, causing an apprehension about entering the water.
