VIDEO of shark by YouTube poster Nathan Anderson, who claims the shark is believed to be the Great White shark responsible for the attack on a swimmer Saturday morning at Manhattan Beach.
Manhattan Beach firefighter/paramedics responded about 9:30 a.m. Saturday to 1011 The Strand, about two blocks south of the Manhattan Beach pier, after a swimmer was bitten by a Great White Shark. The shark is reported to have been hooked by the fisherman for a duration as long as 40 minutes before the attack.
The victim, identified as a 40-year-old man, was bitten on the right torso, rib area and is expected to survive, according to Los Angeles County Lifeguard Capt. Tracy Lizotte.
The bite occurred after the 7-foot juvenile Great White Shark was engaged by the fisherman with a hook for about 30 to 45 minutes. The shark is reported to have been agitated while attempting to get free of the hook. The man was bitten when he was part of a group of swimmers that accidentally came into the path of the struggling shark.
The man was screaming after he was bitten and arrived onshore with gashes from a single bite and blood on his chest, and blood on the rescue paddle board. While the man was screaming, the group with the fisherman were laughing about the intersection of the shark and the swimmers — apparently finding it amusing that the swimmer was in a predicament with the shark. They even argued about whether the man was bitten or not. They were aware that the shark jumped right on top of the swimmer, and laughed about the incident. Then the injured man’s screaming begins as rescuers bring the man to shore. The group of people then awkwardly and belatedly warned the remaining swimmers to get out of the water because of the shark. One male in the group yells something about “eat your leg” responding to a female voice that asks, “where is it?”
The video of the fisherman’s actions was possibly uploaded by someone in the fisherman’s group and then re-uploaded by LOUDLABS NEWS — a local news video service in the Los Angeles area. The See the video here …
A sheriff’s helicopter crew located the Great White Shark about 200 yards north of the Manhattan Pier, Zager said. Deputies directed a lifeguard boat and a Redondo Beach Harbor Patrol boat to the shark, and the the personnel worked to move the shark away from the pier and beach.
Illegal to fish for Great White Sharks …
White sharks are indeed illegal to take and have been protected in all California waters since January 1, 1994. Title 14, California Code of Regulations, Fish and Game Code Section 28.06 on page 25 of the California Sportfishing Regulations booklet clearly states that white sharks many not be taken under a sport fishing license. Commercial fishing operations may not target white sharks, either.
— California Department of Fish and Wildlife (WHite Shark Info)
Some witnesses claim the fisherman was chumming — luring the shark with bait — possibly fish parts and blood — which attract fish, particularly sharks owing to their keen sense of smell.
A swimmer was bitten Saturday by a great white shark that grew agitated trying to free itself from a fisherman’s hook off Southern California’s Manhattan Beach Pier, officials said. Photo: GoofyFootPhotography.com, Laura Joyce.
At appox 930 am a 7' shark bit a swimmer training near #manhattanbeach pier. The shark was hooked by fisherman for 40 mins prior to attack
— LA County Lifeguards (@LACoLifeguards) July 5, 2014
The male #shark bite victim is reported to be in stable condition. The beach has been closed 1 mile north & south of #manhattanbeach pier
— LA County Lifeguards (@LACoLifeguards) July 5, 2014
Swimmer awake and talking to paramedics. Swimmer is at local hospital.
— LACounty Fire PIO (@LACoFDPIO) July 5, 2014
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