Beacon’s Beach (Encinitas) 11′ Shark Attack
10/04/2018 Update: NBC7 San Diego reports, “Experts: Great White Shark Likely Responsible For Encinitas Attack on Teenage Boy. The shark that bit a 13-year-old boy, sending him to the hospital was most likely a Great White Shark, experts said.
Doctor Chris Lowe with the Shark Lab of California State University, Long Beach said they are genetically testing the wetsuit the boy was wearing at the time. Dr. Lowe is using this new technique to look at the DNA of the shark. The test is currently being sent to labs in Michigan for analysis.
Andrew Nosal, a marine biologist with the University of San Diego, said based on the severity of the wounds and location of the bite it is consistent with that of a Great White Shark. Nosal added it is extremely rare for anyone in the world to be bitten by a shark, let alone along the coast of California.”
10/04/2018 Update: KUSI San Diego reports, “A team of marine biologists is working together to find out what type of shark attacked a 13-year-old boy at Beacon’s Beach in Encinitas Saturday.
Chris Lowe, a Marine Biologist and Director of the Shark Lab at Cal State University Long Beach, is part of the team.
A video update is available here.
They’ve used techniques similar to that of a crime scene investigator, complete with DNA samples and forensics. ‘These are common forensics tools that are used for investigating crimes,” said Lowe. “We are just now getting to the point where we are getting reasonable data where we may be able to use this to find out what sharks are involved.'”
10/04/2018 Update: 10 News San Diego reports, “Experts gather evidence in hopes of identifying shark that attacked a teenage boy in Encinitas .”
Asked if it was dangerous to be in the water now, Doctor Chris Lowe with the Shark Lab of California State University said it was not, as this type of shark attack is rare. ‘The fact that people are so rarely bitten, to me, indicates that we’re just not on the menu. They don’t want anything to do with people,’ Lowe told 10News.”
09/29/2018 7 p.m. Update: The LA Times reports, “The San Diego County teen was in critical condition in the intensive care unit at Rady Children’s Hospital, said hospital spokesman Carlos Delgado. Dr. Tim Fairbanks, chief pediatric surgeon, said the boy was taken into surgery after being stabilized. “This is a rare injury,” Fairbanks said in a brief news conference Saturday afternoon outside the emergency room. ‘This is not something we see much of, to be honest with you.'”
The victim was rescued by fellow lobster divers in a kayak. They helped the bleeding boy onto their kayak. The rescuers applied pressure to the wound, called for help and shouted for other divers to exit the water. “His whole clavicle was ripped open,” a rescuer said. “You could see the ball and socket joint.” Authorities are investigating with help from Chris Lowe, director of the Shark Lab at Cal State Long Beach. “Once we know more about the details of the incident, we may be able to determine the species involved and provide advice for future beach precautions” based on knowledge of shark behavior, Lowe said in a statement.
09/29/2018 7 p.m. NBC Nightly News Update: 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. About 30 people had been in the water diving for lobsters on the first day of the season.
09/29/2018 7 p.m. 7 San Diego Video Shark Attack Video Update: The Carlsbad Police Department is using a drone to check to look for any sharks that may be a threat, he said. They are also using jet skis to search. Other agencies helping with the investigation are California State Park Lifeguards, Solana Beach Lifeguards, the San Diego Sheriff’s Department, Encinitas and Carlsbad fire departments and the U.S. Coast Guard is aware of the incident.
09/29/2018 7 p.m. Click here * ==>> CBS8 Shark Attack Video Update:
09/29/2018 7 p.m. Beacon’s Beach Update: Despite the closure, a surfer could be seen paddling into a break in the area Saturday morning. Go figure…
09/29/2018 12 Noon Update: Encinitas Lifeguard Captain Larry Giles stated in an interview, “It was opening day for lobster season. It is not known what type of shark attacked, but the shark was estimated to be 11 feet long. Beaches to be closed for 48 hours from Ponto to Swami’s beach. A permitted surf event was canceled. The victim was conscious and airlifted to a hospital. The attack was about 150 yards from the beach. There was a report of a seal in the area. This is a nonfatal incident. There was a nonfatal shark attack a few months ago at Camp Pendleton. A few years ago there was a fatal attack off of Solana Beach. The City of Encinitas is working with a shark expert who has been on ‘Shark Week.'”
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10News reports, “The shark attack was reported just before 7 a.m. in the 900 block of Neptune Ave. at Beacon Beach, San Diego County Sheriff’s Department said. San Diego Fire-Rescue lifeguards were also on scene.
The 13-year-old endured traumatic injuries to his upper torso and was airlifted to Rady Children’s Hospital. The child was conscious and talking, according to Encinitas Lifeguards Captain Larry Giles.”
Giles indicated that because there were other permitted events in Encinitas, the lifeguard response time was short – within 15 minutes.
The San Diego Union-Tribune reports, “A teenager diving for lobster on the opening day of the season was attacked by a shark Saturday morning near Beacon’s Beach in Encinitas, authorities said.
The shark attack occurred just before 7 a.m. off Neptune Avenue at the foot of Leucadia Boulevard. They saw he was bleeding badly from a serious clavicle wound, said Chad Hammel, one of the rescuers.
“Once we threw him up on the kayak and started heading in, that’s when I looked back, and the shark was behind the kayak,” Hammel told the news station. “He didn’t want to give up yet.”
The extent of the boy’s injuries was not released. The 13-year-old victim was airlifted to Rady Children’s Hospital, said hospital spokesman Carlos Delgado.
Encinitas Lifeguards are expected to provide further details at a news conference.
The beach has been closed.”
Read 16+ Shark Attack Tips. Shark Research: Myths, Facts, Safety, Surfing
CBS8 reports, “A teenager reportedly was attacked by a shark off the Encinitas shoreline Saturday morning.
It happened just before 7 a.m. at Beacon’s Beach, on Neptune Avenue near Leucadia Boulevard., authorities said.
The victim is reportedly 13-years-old and is in critical condition.
A representative of Rady Children’s Hospital confirmed someone arrived at the hospital with a shark bite injury about 7:45 a.m., but released no further information.
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