Shark Bites Paddleboarder's Craft At Cape Cod Beach

WELLFLEET, MA — A paddleboarder certainly experienced more than he bargained for during a morning outing at Marconi Beach in Wellfleet Wednesday. Officials said a great white shark chomped his board close to his feet, sending him tumbling down. The man and the shark were not injured in the encounter, officials said.

The beach was closed to swimming. (Sign up for free daily newsletters and breaking news alerts from Massachusetts Patch sites.)

The Cape Cod Times identified the paddleboarder as Cleveland Bigelow, 69, of Chatham. He said the shark bite felt like "getting hit by a truck."

Marconi beach was the latest on Cape Cod to be closed due to a great white shark encounter. On Monday, a great white shark chomped on a seal just feet from swimmers at Nauset Beach in Orleans. Mid- to late-August marks the height of great white shark activity around Cape Cod.

Cape Cod is a hot spot for sharks, which are drawn in by the dense seal population. Great whites nurse off Montauk, New York, and travel to the Cape every summer to hunt, according to researchers.

There have been no incidents involving sharks attacking people on the Cape so far this summer. Shark attacks on humans are extremely rare; the odds are about one in 12 million. Most shark attack victims survive, as bites on humans by sharks are normally exploratory.

The Atlantic White Shark Conservancy provided these tips for avoiding great white encounters:

• Do not swim near seals
• Swim close to shore, where your feet can touch the bottom
• Swim, paddle, kayak and surf in groups
• Do not swim alone in the ocean at dawn or dusk
• Avoid isolation
• Limit splashing and do not wear shiny jewelry
• Keep your distance (at least 150 feet) from seals, whether they are resting on land or are in the water. It is against the law to disturb them
• Adhere to all signage at beaches where seals are resting
• Keep pets leashed. Inquisitive dogs can startle resting seals, resulting in seal bites or scratches to you or your pet
• Follow instructions of lifeguards
• Become familiar with the beach flag warning system
• Take time to read signage at the beaches

Related:

• Great White Shark Chomps Seal Next To Swimmers At Cape Cod Beach: Video
• Great White Shark Leaps, Steals Catch Off Cape Cod
• Great White Sharks Devour Whale Off Cape Cod
• Great White Shark Chomps GoPro Off Cape Cod
• Great White Shark Chomps Seal In Half Off Cape Cod
• Great White Sharks Return To Cape Cod
• First-Ever Great White Shark Nursery Found South Of Cape Cod

Photo: A great white shark's teeth marks can be seen on a paddleboard after officials said it chomped down on it while a man was paddling at Marconi Beach in Wellfleet August 23, 2017. (Credit: Cape Cod National Parks Service)