Newport Shark Attack Victim Survives Hours of Surgery

CORONA DEL MAR, CA - A 52-year-old woman survived a shark attack in Newport Beach after enduring several hours of surgery, thanks, in part, to her level of fitness and calm in crisis.

Doctors hailed the shark attack victim -- a fitness instructor -- for staying "remarkably calm" through the ordeal.

Officials at Orange County Global Medical Center identified the woman as Maria Korcsmaros, who is an aerobics and fitness trainer in Corona. She is a mother of three -- aged 16, 22, and 24.

Authorities confirmed her wounds are consistent with a bite from a large shark, extending from her shoulder to her lower pelvis. According to her doctors, the she suffered several lacerations, and her abdominal wall was pierced by the teeth.

"There are multiple lacerations like one would expect to see from multiple teeth," said OC Global Medical Center Dr. Humberto Sauri.

Korcsmaros' injuries were traumatic, and she endured several hours of surgery. While she is expected to recover, it remains to be seen if she will have complete use of her arm back.

Korcsmaros was pulled bleeding from the ocean off Corona del Mar State Beach at 4:15 p.m. Sunday when lifeguards on a patrol boat noticed she was in distress, according to Newport Beach spokeswoman Tara Finnigan. The attack prompted authorities to clear the ocean water of swimmers from the Balboa Pier south to Crystal Cove State Beach. The stretch remains closed.

Lifeguards searched the water for signs of sharks but "have not spotted a shark or any significant marine life activity," Finnigan said this morning.

Dr. Philip Rotter, director of orthopedic surgery at Orange County Global Medical Center, said Korcsmaros suffered what appeared to be one large bite on the right side of her body, stretching from her upper body to her pelvic area.

The wound was "very obviously a mouth," he said. "You can see individual marks from individual teeth."

Hospital officials said Korcsmaros was swimming about 150 yards off the coast, training for a half-Iron Man competition scheduled for July 10 in Canada, when she was attacked.

Rotter and Sauri both credited Korcsmaros' level of physical fitness for helping to save her life.

"She had significant open wounds ... those are wounds that would have bled a lot," Rotter said. "She was able to tread water and hold her own until help arrived. So that's pretty remarkable."

Both doctors also said she was calm throughout the ordeal.

"She's a very strong lady. She's remarkably calm," Sauri said.

Sauri said Korcsmaros will likely be hospitalized for at least another week.

According to Rotter, time will tell if she will have full use of her right arm.

"Remarkably, right now her nerves are all functioning," he said. "... It's much too early to tell ... but right now it looks good."

The hospital news conference to discuss the attack was interrupted when a member of the audience passed out, and suffered a seizure. The doctors rushed to her side, lifting her from a chair and placing her on the floor. It wasn't immediately known if the person was a member of the media or with the hospital staff.

City News Service and Patch staff Paige Austin contributed to this report. Photo: Courtesy of Maria Korcsmaros' Facebook page and Orange County Harbor Patrol.