Camilla Jessen
The swimmer was nipped by white shark.
A 54-year-old man was bitten by a shark while swimming between Santa Catalina Island and San Pedro, marking a rare ocean incident, authorities confirmed.
Incident During Marathon Swim
The attack occurred in the early hours of Tuesday, September 30, around midnight, as the swimmer made his way from Catalina toward the mainland, a distance exceeding 20 miles.
This was reported by People.
Shark Description
Authorities and eyewitnesses described the shark as a three- to four-foot white shark.
It reportedly nipped at the swimmer’s foot and leg before swimming away.
The attack has been classified as rare, according to Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) officials.
Minor Injuries Reported
The swimmer sustained cuts to his foot and leg, which were described as minor.
Capt. Adam VanGerpen of the LAFD told the Los Angeles Times the man was “awake and talking and sitting up” after the incident, experiencing only mild distress.
Immediate Response by Crew
The marathon swimmer was accompanied by a support crew who attended to him on their boat before LAFD responders arrived.
The crew helped stabilize the swimmer and prepared him for transport.
Emergency Response
Four LAFD boats were dispatched to the scene.
The first arrived approximately 40 minutes after the initial call, locating the vessel about eight miles from San Pedro.
Two paramedics provided care on board before the swimmer was transported back to shore and then to a hospital.
Circumstances of the Swim
The swimmer and his team departed Catalina around midnight to avoid interference from shipping lanes.
They were roughly halfway to the mainland—12 miles from Catalina—when the shark incident occurred.
Authorities Comment on Rarity
Capt. VanGerpen emphasized that shark bites of this nature are uncommon in the area.
“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 told The Los Angeles Times.
Safety and Precautions
Officials praised the swimmer’s crew for immediate intervention and highlighted the importance of having safety measures in place for long-distance ocean swims, particularly overnight excursions in regions known for shark activity.
This article is made and published by Camilla Jessen, which may have used AI in the preparation
