Shark Attack Closes NorCal Beach, Seriously Injures Man

PACIFICA, CA — Grey Whale Cove State Beach, near Pacifica, was closed Saturday after a man was bitten by a great white shark. He was rushed to a hospital in serious condition, officials said.

The 35-year-old man was swimming when he was bitten on his right leg around 9:15 a.m. Officials estimated that the great white shark was between 6 and 8 feet long.

The man was able to swim to shore and receive medical attention before he was transported to Stanford Hospital in Palo Alto, the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office said on Twitter.

The man was treated with "advanced life support measures" before he was taken to a trauma center, officials from Cal Fire wrote on Twitter.

A warning sign has been posted on the beach, officials said. No other information was immediately available.

SEE ALSO: Shark Attacks In Orange County: How Likely Are They To Happen?

Shark attacks are uncommon, but they do happen in California. In the past 30 years there have been 2,711 shark attacks around the world, with a fatality rate of 10.7 percent, according to data assembled by David Angotti and his team at Florida Panhandle.

INCIDENT UPDATE: Upon arrival at Gray Whale Cove firefighters/paramedics found a male on the beach with a confirmed bite to his body. Patient was treated with advanced life support measures and transported to a local trauma center in serious condition. pic.twitter.com/z3dcy9gTR6
— CAL FIRE CZU (@CALFIRECZU) June 26, 2021