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Shark attack closes popular beach as man has hole ripped in torso and arm bitten

03 June 2024 , 10:50
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A 46-year-old man was sent to the hospital after being bitten by a shark
A 46-year-old man was sent to the hospital after being bitten by a shark

In a horrifying incident, a man was attacked by a shark while swimming at a beach in California on Sunday.

The beast tore into his torso, leading to the closure of the beach for several days. The 46-year-old victim, who has not been named but is known to be an experienced ocean swimmer and regular at the beach, suffered serious injuries but they are not life-threatening, according to Del Mar officials.

Del Mar Lifeguard Chief Jon Edelbrock told Fox 5 San Diego: "My understanding is that the patient is stable. He was in the OR last I heard, so we're happy and feel fortunate that he's doing well."

Shark attack closes popular beach as man has hole ripped in torso and arm bitten eidexiqqdiqzqprwThe authorities investigate the area where a shark bit a man on Sunday morning (NBC San Diego)

Lifeguards reportedly became aware of the situation when they saw one swimmer assisting another back to shore. The victim had sustained bites to his torso, left arm and hand and was rushed to Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla via ambulance.

Both La Jolla and Del Mar are districts of San Diego, situated in the northern part of the city along the coast, approximately 20 miles from the city centre. The attack reportedly took place around 9am PDT on Sunday, about 100 yards from the shore, near the Beach Safety Center at 17th Street, as per Fox 5.

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Shortly after the incident, lifeguards were seen putting up signs reading, "SHARK INCIDENT, DO NOT ENTER," dated June 2. The beach is set to stay off-limits until 9am Tuesday, according to the sign.

Shark attack closes popular beach as man has hole ripped in torso and arm bittenThe man suffered series injuries (Getty Images)

Authorities have launched a drone and a boat to scour the waters for the elusive shark, but so far, they've come up empty-handed. "The water visibility was really poor," Edelbrock said.

"You just can't see anything that's moving through the water column at all. The exact moment of the incident was really the only interaction with or sighting of the shark."

Del Mar city officials released a statement to Fox 5 explaining: "In accordance with protocols developed by the California Marine Safety Chiefs Association and the Shark Lab at California State University Long Beach, lifeguards have posted signs and closed Del Mar beaches for swimming and surfing one mile in both directions from the incident - roughly from 6th Street to North Beach - and have notified neighbouring jurisdictions."

This isn't the first time swimmers at Del Mar beaches have encountered shark bites. In November 2022, another swimmer was bitten on the upper thigh. Additionally, over Memorial Day weekend this year, beaches in San Clemente, about 41 miles north of Del Mar, were shut down after a shark tore a chunk from a surfer's board while he was catching waves.

Jeremiah Hassel

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