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

A woman injured this week in waters off Jones Beach State Park was likely bitten by a shark, authorities said, in one of the first reported encounters of the Long Island beach season.

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.