AMITY, MASS. – Countless tourists and beachgoers filed into South Beach expecting a sunny and enjoyable Fourth of July were terrified by two young boys imitating a shark in the water. Spirits had lifted after reports that the shark had been caught and killed, and as Mayor Bob Farley promised, the beach re-opened after 24 hours.
Beachgoers were hesitant to enter the water at first, but an elderly man along with his wife and grandchildren made the first move to be the first ones in. They were followed by the rest of the beach crowd.
Shark spotters were out in force along with lifeguards and oceanographers. Upon the sighting of a fin, everyone rushed out of the water. After the beachfront was emptied, the “fin” was discovered to be two young boys playing a prank with a fake shark silhouette.
The hoax comes just days after two local youngsters were killed in the water at Village Beach by a vicious shark. 16-year-old Wendy Watson and 10-year-old Alex Ferguson were both victims of fatal shark attacks.
It has been claimed that the malicious shark was captured by anonymous fishermen. “I am delighted to report that the giant killer shark that has been blamed for two deaths this week was caught and killed in waters one mile south-southwest of Amity,” said Amity Chief of Police Martin P. Brody.
The fishermen then proceeded to kill the 16-foot long Nurse Shark and will receive the $3,000 reward from Marin Ferguson, the mother of one of the victims.
The shark has been identified by Mark Hooper, a marine biologist from the Woods Hold Oceanographic Institute.
Quick action was taken by all involved to ensure that everyone would be safe. No one was harmed during the elaborate shark hoax.
Precautions will continue to be taken by all. “Any shark sightings should be reported immediately to the police or Coast Guard,” said Brody. “While police urge vigilance, we believe that the danger of future shark attacks has passed,” he added.
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