Hudson Valley Man Identified as Cape Cod Shark Attack Victim

The man violently attacked by a shark off of Cape Cod lives in the Hudson Valley.

The incident happened on Wednesday afternoon at the Cape Cod National Seashore. near Truro, Massachusettes. According to the Cape Cod Times, William Lytton was 30 yards off the shore, standing in shallow water when he was bitten by a shark.

The shark caused serious injuries, puncturing his leg and torso. Nurses who happened to be at the beach were able to quickly attend to the man and help slow down his bleeding. Because of the terrible cell phone reception in the area, beachgoers had to race to find a phone where they could call 911.

Lytton was eventually airlifted to a nearby hospital where is listed in serious condition. Authorities say the 61-year-old  lives in the lower Hudson Valley, near Scarsdale.

Swimming is still prohibited at beaches while officials continue to monitor shark activity. Witnesses say they observed a number of seals off the shore during the attack. Sharks have been recently spotted along Cape Cod feeding on seals close to the shoreline. It's likely that Lytton was the unfortunate victim of mistaken identity. The beaches are still closed on Friday, but swimmers are expected to be allowed back in the water on Saturday morning if no more sharks are seen in the area.