Posted on 06/22/2022 5:18:11 PM PDT by nickcarraway
Moments after a shark attacked a man off Lovers Point Beach in Pacific Grove on Wednesday, good Samaritans pulled the injured swimmer onto a surfboard and paddled him out of the ocean, police and witnesses told KRON4.
Police officers and paramedics responded to a report of a shark attack at the popular beach at 10:35 a.m.
The swimmer suffered “significant injuries” from shark bites and was transported to Natividad Hospital, according to the Pacific Grove Police Department. Police said the swimmer was bitten in the leg and the stomach.
Good Samaritans risked their own safety to help the victim after the shark attacked, Police Chief Cathy Madalone said.
Two of the good Samaritans were identified as paddle boarders, and a third was a local surfing instructor.
An off-duty Sacramento police officer and his wife were paddle boarding near Lovers Point when they saw the swimmer in distress.
“We immediately paddled to him,” the off-duty officer told KRON4.
The surf instructor also paddled out with an extra surfboard.
“We pulled the injured swimmer onto the board and took him to shore where paramedics were just arriving. The injuries were severe and two tourniquets were placed on the victim to help control bleeding,” the off-duty officer told KRON4.
Chief Madalone wrote, “We want to express our gratitude and appreciation to the Good Samaritans that took immediate action and personal risk to assist the swimmer. We send our prayers and thoughts to the swimmer and their family.”
The Monterey Fire Department deployed a drone for an aerial search of the water. As of Wednesday afternoon, there had been no further sightings of the aggressive shark. All beaches between Lovers Point and Sea Palm will remain closed until Saturday as a precaution.
The Pacific Grove Police Department did not provide an update late Wednesday afternoon on the shark attack victim’s medical condition.
Great white shark ‘baby boom’ observed along NorCal coast Officials have not yet identified what species the shark is. Great white sharks live in the Monterey Bay and were responsible for other attacks against people in previous years.
In May of 2020, surfer Ben Kelly was killed by a great white shark in the Monterey Bay. Kelly, 26, was catching waves off Sand Dollar Beach when the shark bit his leg and struck a major artery. Jorge Moreno of California State Parks said the shark was between 10-12 feet long. Scientists confirmed its species by using DNA collected from Kelly’s wetsuit and surfboard.
Pacific Grove used to be a Methodist colony, and Lovers Point Beach was called Lovers of Christ Point Beach.
Lovers Point Beach in Pacific Grove
Visited there often, beautiful area. The drive down Hwy 1 from SF with the kidos was always a great adventure. The good old days.
I know this area. Many, many years ago we had retreats at Asilomar, practically next door to here.
I remember we took Rt.1 from the Bay area (we liven in San Jose) all the way down to our cousins in LA.
It took way longer than Rt.101...
Much longer, but the drive is worth it. HWY 1 is some of the most beautiful roads on the west half of the continent
It’s a shame that CA has the politics it has.
It’s the most physically diverse and beautiful state.
Good thing this wasn't Uvalde, TX. The officer would have waited for a shark cage before moving in.
got attacked because of sharks live in the ocean, surprise
101 takes longer than the 5, also. But 1 is the most beautiful.
It was cool. I’m glad we did it once.
Look at CA in the 80’s. Took less then 30 years to destroy the state.
Hwy
iPad hell
I lived in San Jose from 76-85.
Ha! Two hours and fifteen minutes of driving south on Highway 1. Thanks!
Reminded me of a summer day a long time ago when my legs, exposed by the shorts I was wearing, encountered plenty of poison oak when I walked in a field near Big Sur.
That itched just a bit.
Pacific Grove and it’s butterflies
Bixby bridge. I’ll never see it again.
Magnificent
Wow!
Lovers is a pretty safe place.
Now Pt Lobos, you need to keep close eye on the ocean.
Are all Police Chiefs, Sheriffs, Fire Chiefs, mayors now women and or POC ?
It’s almost as if Madison Avenue assigns these jobs.
“HWY 1 is some of the most beautiful roads on the west half of the continent”
There isn’t anything worth traveling to see on the east half of the continent.
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