A ten-year-old boy was killed this morning while he played in the water with his friends at Village Beach.
The death of Alex Ferguson appears to be the result of what the police call a “vicious and unprovoked shark attack,” according to a press release by Chief of Police Martin Brody.
This attack came during a busy day on the beach. There were many beach-goers enjoying the sunny weather, and several were in the water at the time of Ferguson’s death.
Ferguson was floating on a rubber raft surrounded by children playing ball in the water. Their playful yelling turned to screams as Ferguson disappeared under water and blood floated to the surface.
Immediately, parents swarmed into the water to bring their children to safety, some even dragging the children to the beach. After the rush, one mother remained at the water’s edge, calling for her son.
Marian Ferguson, Alex Ferguson’s mother, is now at Amity Hospital where she is being treated for shock. The police have not yet found the body of her son.
According to the press release, Ferguson’s rubber raft has been recovered by police. There appears to be a large bite taken out of the raft. Police say that the investigations into Ferguson’s death and the recent death of high school student Wendy Watson are still ongoing, and no conclusions have been reached.
There will be a press conference tonight where Amity Mayor Bob Farley, Chief Brody, and the Board of Selectmen will discuss the request by Brody to close the beaches as well as a fisherman’s offer to begin a shark hunt.
Both Mayor Farley and Chief Brody offer their deepest condolences to the Ferguson family.