Another SoCal Shark Attack - 9/29/18

[Califoilia]

From NBC News:

Boy, 13, attacked by shark off Southern California coast.
The boy "sustained traumatic injuries to the upper torso area" in the attack off an Encinitas beach.

The boy, who was not identified, "sustained traumatic injuries to the upper torso area” in the 6:55 a.m. incident near Beacon's Beach, said Encinitas Lifeguard Capt. Larry Giles. A spokesman for Rady Children's Hospital said he was in critical condition and would undergo surgery Saturday afternoon.

After the attack, the boy was brought back to the beach by three good Samaritans on a kayak. About 30 people had been in the water diving for lobsters on the first day of the season, Giles and a witness said.

The 13-year old boy who was apparently bitten by a shark while free-diving on the first day of lobster season, on Sept. 29. 2018 in Encinitas, California.The 13-year old boy who was apparently bitten by a shark while free-diving on the first day of lobster season, on Sept. 29. 2018 in Encinitas, California.Family photo / via Rady Children's Hospital-San Diego
Lifeguards on scene provided life support before the boy was taken to a trauma center, Giles said. The boy was conscious when he was saved by bystanders and when he was transported by helicopter, he said.

"There was about 30 people in the water, and then we heard this kid scream—and I thought he just, you know, maybe his first bug [lobster], got like a big one and so I was happy for him,” Chad Hammel, one of the kayakers who helped rescue the boy, said.

"And then I kind of heard that 'I got bit,'" Hammel said. "There was a seal swimming around us, and so I kind of put two and two together. When I started paddling towards him and there was a big old, you know, wake of blood behind him."

Once on the kayak, Hammel said the boy’s “entire back was open.” The boy said the shark attacked him from the clavicle and on his back, and the shark's teeth cut part of his cheek.

One of the three men was swimming with his fins and Hammel paddled towards shore, but “the shark followed," Hammel said.

"He wasn't really chasing, but he was kind of waiting to see what was going to happen," he said. It was the boy’s first time out for lobster, Hammel said.


Bystanders said the shark was around 11 feet long, Giles said. The boy was in about 9 feet of water 150 to 200 yards from the beach. One of his parents was on the beach at the time.

"We are concerned about obviously public safety. The beaches are going to be closed down right now," Giles said. "We are asking people not to go into the water."

Bystanders reported there was a seal in the area at the time of the attack, Giles said. Seals are prey for some types of sharks, including great whites. Hammel said "it looked like a white." Officials were working with a marine scientist to determine the type of shark involved.

The boy’s family is requesting privacy but said they appreciate the support they have received, Dr. Tim Fairbanks, division chief of pediatric surgery and trauma surgery at Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego, said in a statement on their behalf.

"The family is completely focused on their child at this time," Fairbanks said.

He added that the boy was free diving for lobsters when he was attacked.

The waters by beaches were closed from La Costa Avenue around South Ponto Beach south to Swami’s Beach and would remain closed for 48 hours to see if there was any more shark activity in the area, Giles said.

"At this time since the incident, we have not seen any shark activity at all," he said.

A surfing competition down the beach was canceled Saturday, and a sheriff's helicopter was being flown to observe any signs of sharks, among other measures. If there is no more activity spotted, the beach closures could end at 7 a.m. Monday, Giles said.

The attack shocked some people familiar with the waters off Beacon’s Beach. Mike McInnis, who lives nearby, learned to surf there when he was 6 years old.

"I just couldn’t believe it was happening, in my surf break," McInnis said. "I surf here almost every day."

There were a series of possible shark sightings reported off the coast of Oceanside, a city north of Encinitas, in late June, The San Diego Union-Tribune reported.

[supthecreek]

Sucks.
It's fortunate that the kayaks were there to get him out of the water quickly.
I wish the best for he and his family.

Very traumatizing for the whole ocean community when this happens.
Beacons is another great beach to have it's community shook to it's core.

Sounds like another juvenile GW.
Fark.

[surfcowboy]

Got a text this am from a friend of the family. Kid was in a 10 hour surgery. Everyone send a little love and good vibes to them today if you would.

[seadart]

Beacons is the break nearest my house.  The bite sounded serious, but I think was probably a mistake, or else the kid would be dead. The shark sounds like it was a big juvenile.    I'm wondering if the kayak fishermen were the reason he got bit. Last summer  of Avenida De La Playa,  kayak fishermen were letting fish bleed out tied to their kayaks paddling in from outside the Marine Preserve - they had hammerheads following them into the Lajolla Shores boat ramp. I've seen the same thing happen kayaking off Catalina Island.     The article said the shark was following their kayak after they helped the boy in. It sounds like it has learned an unusual behavior.    This is just a few miles north of the spot where a swimmer was killed abou ten years ago between Solana Beach and Tabletops by a great white shark.

[OUTSIDEWAVE]

Oh thats ineresting  especially since i surt terra mar as my main break justva few milesnorth  i think that someone who surfs locally and knows the kayaker ought to say something  most "attacks"  are mistakes 

[Califoilia]

From the article...

Chad Hammel, one of the kayakers who helped rescue the boy, said.

"And then I kind of heard that 'I got bit,'" Hammel said. "There was a seal swimming around us, and so I kind of put two and two together. When I started paddling towards him and there was a big old, you know, wake of blood behind him."

Once on the kayak, Hammel said the boy’s “entire back was open.” The boy said the shark attacked him from the clavicle and on his back, and the shark's teeth cut part of his cheek.

One of the three men was swimming with his fins and Hammel paddled towards shore, but “the shark followed," Hammel said.

"He wasn't really chasing, but he was kind of waiting to see what was going to happen," he said.

...with the mention of the "seal swimming around us", which is what folks were saying last year when the young lady got hit up at Church/Trestles.

So not sure if it's necessarily the kayakers' fault (didn't say if they were even fishing), but made it sound more as if the shark was "following" more out of curiosity...and if it was a blood in the water attraction, it seemed to be more the young victim's rather than from some fish the kayakers may or may not have had hanging off their boats.

Just what I read in the article, and remember from last year's attack just south of San Clemente.