A 46-year-old man was hospitalized after being bitten in his torso, arm and hand at a Southern California beach about 9 a.m. Sunday, according to local news reports.
The man was one of about a dozen swimmers about 100 yards off the beach in murky water who were heading back to shore when the attack occurred. His fellow swimmers helped the man to shore where lifeguards quickly applied a tornaquet.
“There was a lot of bleeding, so they determined it was likely an arterial wound in the left hand and wrist area,” City of Del Mar Chief Lifeguard John Edelbrock told the San Diego Union Tribune. “He had significant injuries to his torso for sure.”
The man’s injuries are said to be substantial but non-life-threatening, according to local officials. He was transported to Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla.
Beaches were closed one mile north and south of 17th Street, which is the location of the incident. They will remain closed until 9 a.m. Tuesday.
The attack is the second in the past 16 months in Del Mar which, along with much of Northern San Diego County has a significant population of juvenile great white sharks.