Officials Close Beaches, React To Fatal Cape Cod Shark Attack

WELLFLEET, MA – A Cape Cod beach remained closed Sunday after the state's first fatal shark attack in over 80 years. Arthur Medici, a 26-year-old Revere man, died Saturday after being bitten by a shark off Newcomb Hollow Beach in Wellfleet. That beach, as well as all beaches in neighboring Truro, will remain closed until further notice.

Medici was pulled to shore by a friend and taken to Cape Cod Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Joe Booth, a local fisherman and surfer, told The Associated Press Medici was attacked while boogie boarding with a friend.

There had not been a fatal shark attack in Massachusetts since 1936, when a 16-year-old was killed in the waters off Mattapoisett. Last month, a 61-year-old New York man was severely injured in an attack off Truro, the first in Massachusetts since 2012.

William Lytton, who is still recovering in a Boston hospital, told the Cape Cod Times he feels "horribly" for Arthur Medici's family.

"I feel like I just barely escaped death myself," Lytton said in an interview with the Times.

There have been numerous beach closings this summer as reports of shark sightings spiked. Following Saturday's deadly attack, many Cape Cod officials offered condolences and called for a response to the rise in shark activity close to shore.

U.S. Rep. Bill Keating, who counts the Cape among his district, tweeted Sunday that he will hold meetings with the National Park Service and state and local officials to determine how best to address the issue.

Barnstable County Commissioner Ronald Beaty Jr., who previously pushed for using baited drum lines to trap – and ultimately kill – great white sharks, told the Cape Cod Times Saturday's attack was "truly unfortunate."

"I told everybody last year that this would eventually happen," he said.

The Atlantic White Shark Conservancy, which studies shark activity off Cape Cod and developed an app to track their movements, said Saturday it will continue to work alongside public safety officials to keep the public informed on shark behavior.

In an online statement, National Park Service Superintendent Brian Carlstrom urged the public to follow advisories posted at beaches.

"Do not swim near seals; swim close to shore where feet can touch the bottom; swim, paddle, and kayak in groups; do not swim alone at dawn or dusk; avoid isolation; and limit splashing and do not wear shiny jewelry," he wrote.

Photo: Screenshot via Twitter, used with permission