Solo Swimmer, 54, Bitten by 3-Foot Shark in ‘Rare Attack’ Near L.A.
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NEED TO KNOW
- A 54-year-old man was bitten by a 3-foot-long shark while swimming between Santa Catalina and San Pedro at around 1.30 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept 30
- The marathon swimmer sustained wounds to his foot and leg and was attended to by his accompanying crew before four boats from the Los Angeles Fire Department arrived
- Los Angeles Fire Department Capt. Adam VanGerpen told the Los Angeles Times that the man was “lucky” the creature just “nipped” at him, adding that the attack was “rare”
A man was bitten by a 3-foot-long shark during a solo marathon swim in the ocean near Los Angeles, authorities have confirmed.
On Tuesday, Sept. 30, at around midnight, the 54-year-old was swimming from Santa Catalina towards San Pedro — a distance of over 20 miles — when the “rare attack” occurred, authorities told The Los Angeles Times.
The man had swum around 12 miles off Catalina Island and was halfway towards the mainland when authorities responded to the incident at approximately 1:30 a.m., according to KTLA.
“It sounded like about a three to four-foot white shark just nipped at his leg and his foot and then took off,” LAFD Fireboat Pilot Shaun Corby told the outlet, with NBC Los Angeles noting that his cuts were “minor.”
PEOPLE has contacted the Los Angeles Fire Department for comment, but did not immediately receive a response.
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The swimmer, who was accompanied by a crew, was pulled out of the water and attended to on their boat before authorities arrived, per KTLA.
Four boats from the LAFD were dispatched to the man’s vessel, with the first arriving around 40 minutes after the initial call for help. The vessel was located approximately eight miles from San Pedro at the time, according to The Los Angeles Times, who also note that he was treated by two paramedics.
“We just grabbed the victim and transported him back to our station, and transported him to the hospital,” Corby told KTLA.
Los Angeles Fire Department Capt. Adam VanGerpen also told The Los Angeles Times that the man “was awake and talking and sitting up.”
“He suffered only mild distress,” he added.
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The swimmer told officials that he and his team left Catalina at around 12:00 a.m. to avoid disruption from shipping lanes.
“It’s pretty rare and I guess we’re all lucky that the shark just nipped at him, didn’t like it and swam away,” VanGerpen added to the The Los Angeles Times.
Credit to Nypost AND Peoples
