Great White Shark Attack Puts Swimmer in ‘Serious Condition’ at Bay Area Beach

A 35-year-old man swimming near Grey Whale Cove State Beach was hospitalized on Saturday after a great white shark bit him in the leg. The event highlights the danger of swimming in Northern California’s infamous Red Triangle.

The attack occurred around 9:15 am on Saturday when the 6-8 foot shark bit the man in the leg while he was swimming just off the beach. The man was able to swim to shore and treated with “advanced life support measures” before being transported to Stanford in serious condition. The beach was promptly closed following the incident.

“Upon arrival at Gray Whale Cove firefighters/paramedics found a male on the beach with a confirmed bite to his body,” wrote Cal Fire officials on Twitter “Patient was treated with advanced life support measures and transported to a local trauma center in serious condition.”

Grey Whale Cove State Beach is part of NorCal’s Red Triangle, the stretch of coastline from the Marin coast to Monterey Bay that accounts for nearly 40 percent of all great white shark attacks in the United States. The area is a favorite for great white shark due to its dense populations of marine mammals, the shark’s favorite food group. When the Marine Mammal Act of 1972 ended the slaughter of seals, marine biologists have noticed an increase in Red Triangle shark populations, due to the protected all-you-can-eat buffet of marine mammals in the area. The predators have been protected in California waters ever since 1994.

Active NorCal

Telling the Stories of Northern California

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