Lifeguards and police were using personal watercraft and aerial surveillance Sunday to continue their search for a large shark that attacked a 13-year-old boy near Beacon’s Beach in Encinitas on Saturday morning, leaving him with traumatic upper-body injuries. There have been no reports of a shark in the area since the attack occurred, but Encinitas lifeguard Capt. Larry Giles said people are not yet being allowed to go back into the water. “We imagine it could be a great white shark, but we don’t know for sure,” Giles said during a Sunday morning news conference. The injured boy was listed in serious condition in the intensive care unit at Rady Children’s Hospital on Sunday. Giles had no further information on the teenager, who was diving for lobsters on the opening the day of the season with his mother nearby on the beach when he was attacked. Advertisement Swimming, surfing or diving is prohibited from Ponto Beach in southern Carlsbad to Swami’s Beach in Encinitas through Monday morning, officials said. That stretch of coastline remains open to the public, however, as long as they stay out of the water. Giles said Carlsbad police plan to use a drone to search for the shark, while lifeguards on personal watercraft continue to search in the water. Authorities posted 70 signs on Saturday warning people about the shark danger in the area, but Giles said 20 to 30 of the signs have already been stolen, probably as souvenirs. He said it’s a priority to determine what kind of shark attacked the boy, stressing that such attacks are highly unusual even though thousands of sharks frequent the North County coastline. “We have so many sharks out here in the water that are un-threatening to the public,” he said. He said Chris Lowe, director of the Shark Lab at Cal State Long Beach, was scheduled to come to North County on Sunday to speak with witnesses and try to determine what kind of shark attacked the boy and why it was in the area. Making that determination will help authorities better understand the behavior patterns of sharks and what risks people face in the region’s waters. Witnesses described the shark as being about 11 feet long, based on its silhouette in the water, Giles said Advertisement He said the boy was fortunate that an off-duty state lifeguard and an off-duty Oceanside police officer were nearby in the water at the time of the attack. They pulled the boy into a kayak and applied pressure to his wounds. “They played a significant part in helping this young man and possibly saving his life,” Giles said. While there have been a dozen shark attacks in the region since 2000, this is the first in Encinitas in at least 30 years, Giles said. The last fatal attack was on April 25, 2008, when retired veterinarian David Martin, 66, was killed by a great white shark while on a triathlon training swim off Fletcher Cove in Solana Beach. Advertisement david.garrick@sduniontribune.com UPDATES: 3:55 p.m.: This article was updated with new information from authorities about the attack. This article was originally posted at 12:05 p.m.<doc-sep>A 13-year-old boy was critically injured and flown to a hospital by helicopter after being attacked Saturday by a shark off the coast of Encinitas, California, officials said. The boy, who was not identified, suffered "traumatic injuries to the upper torso area” in the early morning attack near Beacon's Beach, said Encinitas Lifeguard Capt. Larry Giles. Officials with Rady Children's Hospital said Sunday the boy was expected to recover after undergoing surgery. After the attack, the boy was brought back to the beach by three good Samaritans on a kayak. About 30 people had been in the water diving for lobsters on the first day of the season, Giles and a witness said. The 13-year old boy who was apparently bitten by a shark while free-diving on the first day of lobster season, on Sept. 29. 2018 in Encinitas, California. Family photo / via Rady Children's Hospital-San Diego Lifeguards on scene provided life support before the boy was taken to a trauma center, Giles said. The boy was conscious when he was saved by bystanders and when he was transported by helicopter, he said. "There was about 30 people in the water, and then we heard this kid scream—and I thought he just, you know, maybe his first bug [lobster], got like a big one and so I was happy for him,” Chad Hammel, one of the kayakers who helped rescue the boy, said. "And then I kind of heard that 'I got bit,'" Hammel said. "There was a seal swimming around us, and so I kind of put two and two together. When I started paddling towards him and there was a big old, you know, wake of blood behind him." Once on the kayak, Hammel said the boy’s “entire back was open.” The boy said the shark attacked him from the clavicle and on his back, and the shark's teeth cut part of his cheek. One of the three men was swimming with his fins and Hammel paddled towards shore, but “the shark followed," Hammel said. "He wasn't really chasing, but he was kind of waiting to see what was going to happen," he said. It was the boy’s first time out for lobster, Hammel said. Bystanders said the shark was around 11 feet long, Giles said. The boy was in about 9 feet of water 150 to 200 yards from the beach. One of his parents was on the beach at the time. "We are concerned about obviously public safety. The beaches are going to be closed down right now," Giles said. "We are asking people not to go into the water." Bystanders reported there was a seal in the area at the time of the attack, Giles said. Seals are prey for some types of sharks, including great whites. Hammel said "it looked like a white." Officials were working with a marine scientist to determine the type of shark involved. The boy’s family is requesting privacy but said they appreciate the support they have received, Dr. Tim Fairbanks, division chief of pediatric surgery and trauma surgery at Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego, said in a statement on their behalf. "The family is completely focused on their child at this time," Fairbanks said. He added that the boy was free diving for lobsters when he was attacked. The waters by beaches were closed from La Costa Avenue around South Ponto Beach south to Swami’s Beach and would remain closed for 48 hours to see if there was any more shark activity in the area, Giles said. "At this time since the incident, we have not seen any shark activity at all," he said. A surfing competition down the beach was canceled Saturday, and a sheriff's helicopter was being flown to observe any signs of sharks, among other measures. If there is no more activity spotted, the beach closures could end at 7 a.m. Monday, Giles said. "We don't want anybody else getting injured, so that's why we're taking the precautions that we're doing," Giles said. After clearing the ocean area of surfers and swimmers, lifeguards watch over the waters, off Beacon's Beach, after authorities said a young boy was attacked by a shark in Encinitas, California, Sept. 29, 2018. Mike Blake / Reuters One of the three kayakers who helped rescue the boy was an off-duty police officer from the city of Oceanside, another was an off-duty California state park lifeguard and the third was a friend of theirs, Giles said. There have been a few shark attacks in the area recently, including a non-fatal attack near Camp Pendleton earlier this year and a fatal attack near Solana Beach several years ago, Giles said. In 2008, a swimmer was killed by a great white shark off Solana Beach, according to reports at the time. The attack shocked some people familiar with the waters off Beacon’s Beach. Mike McInnis, who lives nearby, learned to surf there when he was 6 years old. "I just couldn’t believe it was happening, in my surf break," McInnis said. "I surf here almost every day." There were a series of possible shark sightings reported off the coast of Oceanside, a city north of Encinitas, in late June, The San Diego Union-Tribune reported. Earlier this month, a swimmer was killed in a shark attack off Cape Cod in Massachusetts. The Sept. 15 attack that killed a 26-year-old man was the first fatal shark attack in that state since 1936, and the first deadly attack in the U.S. since 2015, officials said. Encinitas is a coastal city of around 60,000 people north of San Diego.<doc-sep>A 13-year-old boy diving for lobster was attacked by a shark Saturday morning near Beacon’s Beach in Encinitas, leaving him with traumatic upper body wounds, authorities said. The attack occurred just before 7 a.m. off Neptune Avenue at the foot of Leucadia Boulevard, an hour into opening day of the lobster diving season. The San Diego County teen was in critical condition in the intensive care unit at Rady Children’s Hospital, said hospital spokesman Carlos Delgado. Dr. Tim Fairbanks, chief pediatric surgeon, said the boy was taken into surgery after being stabilized. Advertisement “This is a rare injury,” Fairbanks said in a brief news conference Saturday afternoon outside the emergency room. “This is not something we see much of, to be honest with you.” (Los Angeles Times) The physician spoke on behalf of the boy’s family, sending a message of thanks to the bystanders who came to his aid. Otherwise, the family requested privacy. The hospital released a photo of the victim on behalf of the family but did not release his name. Lobster diving season opened at 6 a.m. Saturday, and the coastline was filled with several enthusiastic hunters when the boy’s screams rang out over the water, about 200 yards from shore. Chad Hammel was hunting with two friends — an off-duty Oceanside police officer and a state parks lifeguard — when they heard what seemed like a diver’s excited squeals after a catch. But then, “I realized he was yelling, ‘I got bit, help, help!’” Hammel told OnScene TV and other news crews on the beach. The trio pulled the bleeding boy onto their kayak. The rescuers applied pressure to the wound, called for help and shouted for other divers to exit the water. Advertisement “His whole clavicle was ripped open,” Hammel said of the victim. ”We told him he’s going to be OK, he’s going to be all right — we got help. I yelled at everyone to get out of the water: ‘There’s a shark in the water!’” As the rescuers headed to shore, Hammel looked back. “The shark was behind the kayak,” he told reporters. “He didn’t want to give up yet.” The victim was conscious as he was airlifted to the hospital, Encinitas lifeguard Capt. Larry Giles said. Advertisement The boy’s mother was on the beach at the time of the attack, which occurred in about 9 feet of water, Giles said. Witnesses described the shark as about 11 feet long, Giles said, although the species was not known. Hammel told reporters that it might have been a great white. Authorities are investigating with help from Chris Lowe, director of the Shark Lab at Cal State Long Beach. “Once we know more about the details of the incident, we may be able to determine the species involved and provide advice for future beach precautions” based on knowledge of shark behavior, Lowe said in a statement. A shark had been spotted in the area a few weeks earlier, Giles said. An investigation that included showing witnesses photos of various kinds of sharks determined that it was not a species that is considered a threat to people. Advertisement “Over 135 species live in this area,” Giles noted. “This is their natural environment.” Authorities have closed the coastline from Ponto Beach in Carlsbad to Swami’s Beach in Encinitas for the next 48 hours. The Stone Steps Invitational Surf Contest scheduled for Saturday has been canceled. “We’re asking people not to go in the water,” Giles said. Lifeguard boats and personal watercraft were patrolling the shore Saturday, and a sheriff’s helicopter monitored overhead. If no shark sightings are reported after 48 hours, the beaches will likely be reopened. Advertisement Shark bites are extremely rare and generally happen when the fish mistakes swimmers or surfers for sea lions or other marine animals, scientists believe. Still, a number of attacks have occurred along the California coast over the years. In November of 2017, a spear fisherman was badly injured in a shark attack off California’s Central Coast. The man was several yards offshore at Pebble Beach when he was bitten in his right thigh. In April of the same year, a 35-year-old woman was attacked by a shark at a popular surf spot at San Onofre Beach in San Diego County, authorities said. The shark ripped muscle and flesh from her leg and briefly dragged the woman under the water. Advertisement In July 2014, a great white shark attacked a swimmer near the pier in Manhattan Beach. The man suffered a bite wound on the right side of his rib cage. In 2012, a 39-year-old man surfing off the Santa Barbara County coast was killed in a shark attack that occurred off the same beach where a bodyboarder was killed two years earlier. Over the years surveys have found that there are about 2,400 great white sharks living in California waters, but scientists suspect that number has grown because of improved ocean water quality and warmer ocean temperatures. Many great white sharks migrate to warmer waters in Mexico during the winter. Advertisement Union-Tribune staff writers Greg Moran and Pauline Repard contributed to this report. #UPDATE: First look at the scene of a shark attack at Beacon's Beach in Encinitas. Witnesses say a teen boy was airlifted to the hospital. Officials will hold a press conference soon.https://t.co/ewIs1aZVqz pic.twitter.com/NOJeCSe91X — FOX 5 San Diego (@fox5sandiego) September 29, 2018 kristina.davis@sduniontribune.com Advertisement gary.warth@sduniontribune.com UPDATES: 5:35 p.m.: This article has been updated with new information from doctor of boy attacked by shark. Advertisement 2:55 p.m.: This article was updated with new information from authorities and witnesses at the scene. 2:35 p.m.: This article was updated with more information about previous shark attacks off the California coast. 1:15 p.m.: This article was updated with additional details about the attack from lifeguard Capt. Larry Giles. 11:35 a.m.: This article was updated with new information from authorities. Advertisement 10:40 a.m.: This article was updated with new comments from rescuers. This article was originally posted at 9:45 a.m.<doc-sep>
A 13-year-old boy diving for lobster was attacked by a shark Saturday morning near Beacon’s Beach in Encinitas, leaving him with traumatic upper body wounds, authorities said. The attack occurred just before 7 a.m. off Neptune Avenue at the foot of Leucadia Boulevard, an hour into opening day of the lobster diving season, and prompted authorities to close a long stretch of North County coastline for the weekend. The San Diego County teen was in critical condition in the intensive care unit at Rady Children’s Hospital, said hospital spokesman Carlos Delgado. Dr. Tim Fairbanks, chief pediatric surgeon, said the boy was taken into surgery after being stabilized. “This is a rare injury,” Fairbanks said in a brief news conference Saturday afternoon outside the emergency room. He later added: “This is not something we see much of, to be honest with you.” The physician spoke on behalf of the boy’s family, sending a message of thanks for the outpouring of concern and support from the community. Otherwise, the family requested privacy. The hospital released a photo of the victim on behalf of the family but did not release his name. × A 13-year-old boy diving for lobster on the opening day of the season was attacked by a shark Saturday morning near Beacon’s Beach in Encinitas, authorities said. Lobster diving season opened at 6 a.m. Saturday, and about two dozen enthusiastic hunters were trolling for crustaceans when the boy’s screams rang out over the water, about 200 yards from shore. Chad Hammel was lobster diving with two friends — an off-duty Oceanside police officer and a state parks lifeguard — when they heard what seemed like a diver’s excited squeals of a catch. “I realized he was yelling, ‘I got bit, help, help!’” Hammel told OnScene TV and other news crews on the beach. The trio pulled the badly-bleeding boy into a kayak. The rescuers applied pressure on the wound, assured the boy he was being taken care of and called to the shore for help. Warnings for other divers to exit the water were also shouted. “His whole clavicle was ripped open,” Hammel said. “You could see the ball and socket joint.” As the rescuers headed to shore, Hammel looked back. “The shark was behind the kayak,” Hammel told the news crews. “He didn’t want to give up yet.” The victim was conscious as he was airlifted to the hospital, said Encinitas lifeguard Capt. Larry Giles. The boy’s mother was on the beach at the time of the attack, which occurred as the boy was skindiving in about 9 feet of water, Giles said. Giles himself was off-duty and scuba diving nearby when the attack occurred. When he surfaced, he heard the commotion involving the injured boy and rushed to assist. Witnesses described the shark as about 11 feet long, Giles said, although the species was not known. Hammel told reporters that it might have been a great white. Those who were near where the boy was attacked said they saw only a silhouette of the shark in the dark water as the sun was rising, Giles said. Authorities are investigating with help from Chris Lowe, director of the Shark Lab at California State University, Long Beach. “Once we know more about the details of the incident, we may be able to determine the species involved and provide advice for future beach precautions” based on knowledge of shark behavior, Lowe said in a statement. Lowe hopes bite marks in the boy’s wetsuit will provide clues, Giles said. A boy diving for lobster was attacked by a shark Saturday at Beacon’s Beach in Encinitas. (Beto Alvarez/U-T) A shark had been spotted in the area a few weeks earlier, Giles said. An investigation that included showing witnesses photos of various kinds of sharks determined that it was not a species that is considered a threat to people. “Over 135 species live in this area,” Giles noted. “This is their natural environment.” Juvenile great whites like Southern California’s mild ocean temperatures during summer. The area’s rebounding seal and sea lion populations and warmer temperatures might be keeping them around longer than usual before they head down Baja California for the winter, marine experts say. Authorities have closed the coastline from Ponto Beach in Carlsbad to Swami’s Beach in Encinitas for the next 48 hours. The Stone Steps Invitational Surf Contest scheduled for Saturday was cancelled. “We’re asking people not to go in the water,” Giles said.