65-year-old woman hospitalized after apparent shark bite at New York City's Rockaway Beach

A 65-year-old woman was taken to a hospital Monday after being treated with an injury “consistent with a shark bite” she suffered at a New York beach, authorities said.

Around 6 p.m., the New York City Police Department responded to a 911 call at Rockaway Beach in Queens, New York, after a woman “felt a sharp pain to her lower left leg, causing her to fall backwards into the water,” police said in a statement sent to USA TODAY Tuesday.

When police arrived, officers found the victim with a severe laceration on her left thigh area, police said. Officers applied a tourniquet, and EMS transported her to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center. 

She was in serious but stable condition, the New York City Fire Department said in a statement sent to USA TODAY. The fire department said she had “injuries consistent with a shark bite.”

The investigation remains ongoing, police said.

"Though this was a frightening event, we want to remind New Yorkers that shark attacks in Rockaway are extremely rare," the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation said in a statement sent to USA TODAY. "We remain vigilant in monitoring the beach and always clear the water when a shark is spotted."

Shark attacks:Multiple suspected shark bites reported by New York beachgoers over Fourth of July weekend

Shark bites at New York beaches this year

Over Fourth of July weekend, five possible shark bites were reported in the waters of New York beaches, according to officials.

On July 3, a 15-year-old boy was bitten on the foot by shark while surfing off of Fire Island. The next day, a 49-year-old man was bitten on the hand and a woman was bitten on the thigh while swimming in the same area.

Also on July 4, a 49-year-old man reported bites to the knee while at Quogue Village Beach.

Drone operators spotted what appeared to be about 50 sand tiger sharks about 200 yards from the beach while conducting surveillance of an area in Robert Moses State Park, Long Island State Parks Regional Director George Gorman told USA TODAY in July.

Contributing: Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA TODAY