Biologists: Truro shark bite most likely a great white - Boston News, Weather, Sports | FOX 25 | MyFoxBoston

TRURO (FOX 25 / MyFoxBoston.com) – The man who was bit while swimming off of Ballston Beach in Truro on Monday has injuries consistent with a great white shark attack, according to Dr. Gregory Skomal, the premier shark expert in the country.

Expert: Great white shark likely caused swimmer's injuries

After reviewing all of the available information, including eyewitness accounts, Dr. Skomal, a shark expert with the Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game's Division of Marine Fisheries, concluded that Chris Myers' injuries can be attributed to a great white shark.

Dr. Skomal told FOX 25's Maria Stephanos that while it is very unusual, shark attacks are possible in the area due to the increase of the seal population, as well as several other factors; however, he also pointed out that if any species of shark were interested in consuming humans we would see a lot more shark attacks than the 50 attacks that happen globally each year.

Myers was swimming off shore with his son when something bit his leg.  He swam to shore and was carried on a backboard to an ambulance.  He was taken to Cape Cod Hospital and then moved to Massachusetts General Hospital with injuries to his lower extremities.

Witnesses told police that they saw a fin trailing Myers and then the fin went under "just like in the movies."

(Click here to listen to 911 call from Truro)

Myers is in stable condition and is expected to make a full recovery.

Dr. Skomal believes Myers was swimming somewhere between 100 to 200 yards from shore, but will be able to give a better approximation of the distance once he speaks with the victim.

State officials stress that beachgoers should use common sense and need to be aware of their surroundings.  Swimmers are advised to avoid swimming at dusk, to stay close to shore, to avoid areas where seals congregate, and to adhere to local beach closings and swimming advisories.

Dr. Skomal and his crew have been focusing much of their research efforts south of Chatham off of Monomoy.  They hope to have a better understanding by the end of the year as to why the amount of shark sightings has increased over the years. 

Fisheries officials have tagged, and are tracking, nine great white sharks off the coast. While they can't track them in real time, they try to check the data weekly. So far, there has been no evidence the nine great whites have traveled as far north as the site of Monday's attack.

The tagged sharks were between 9- and 18-feet long.

The last fatal shark attack in Massachusetts occurred in the Mattapoisett area during the 1930s. According to The Plymouth Daily News, the 16-year-old from Dorchester was attacked by a shark on July 28, 1936.  At the time, people assumed the teen had drowned since sharks were unheard of in Buzzards Bay.

Expert: Great white shark likely caused swimmer's injuries