A surfer was killed in California following an apparent great white shark attack in Morro Bay, authorities have shared.
As ABC News reports, a surfer at Morro Bay State Park beach hit the waves before 11 a.m. PT, and was unresponsive after he was found “suffering from an apparent shark attack” after being pulled from the water, according to a Morro Bay Police Department statement.
Morro Bay Harbor Patrol Director Eric Endersby told ABC News that a woman found the unnamed man face down along with a boogie board as she attempted to bring him to shore. He was pronounced dead at the scene and has not yet been identified by police.
A coroner will soon measure the bite, but it appeared to be consistent with that of a great white shark, per Endersby. A state Department of Fish and Wildlife biologist was at the scene of the attack, along with the San Luis Obispo County Coroner’s Office and state parks representatives, who are investigating. Authorities have asked local beach-goers to steer clear of the waters for at least a day.
In 2020, the U.S. saw 33 unprovoked shark attacks—3 fatal attacks—per Florida Museum of Natural History at the University of Florida data. Half of those attacks happened in Florida. Just earlier this year, a Florida man was bitten by a shark as he was swimming by a fishing line at Grayton Beach State Park. The shark reportedly mistook the main for bait as it headed toward the fishing line.
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The 26-year-old surfer was pronounced dead at the scene. Signs cautioning beachgoers about the attack have been posted within a 1-mile radius of the incident.
