duncan228
04-26-2008, 11:20 AM
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/shark-beach-county-2026885-great-attack
Shark kills triathlon trainee in Solana Beach
By LAYLAN CONNELLY
A shark attacked and killed a swimmer in Solana Beach at about 7 a.m. as he trained for a triathlon just 150 yards from shore.
The man was identified during a news conference as David Martin, a 66-year-old veterinarian of Solana Beach. Experts confirmed it was a great white shark – 12 to 17 feet long – that killed the man.
He was taken to the Fletcher Cove Park lifeguard station, where he was pronounced dead on the scene, according to a statement on the city Web site.
The beach and waters of Solana Beach have been cleared and sheriff's helicopters are scanning the shores for the animal, according to the statement. The beach could stay closed for about 72 hours.
State Parks Superintendant Rich Rozzelle said the state beaches – including nearby San Onofre – will remain open, and they have no plans to add signs warning the public.
Back in 2005 when a pair of great whites were hanging around the area, signs were posted. But until this attack, there have been no reports of sharks recently, he said.
Lifeguards in San Clemente, the southernmost Orange County city beach near San Diego County, said they were keeping the beaches open and have not sent out an alert to beach-goers. But lifeguards have had several calls come in to the station, according to lifeguard Kevin Cook.
"We haven't had any sightings or alerts. It's business is going to go on as normal around here," he said. "We're kind of right up the street here. It's close, but it's considered pretty safe around here."
Laguna lifeguards said they won't be closing the beach or sending out shark alerts.
"We're not having any sightings, and at this point in time, we're not going to do anything as far as any closures go," said Lt. Tom Trager, who said he's seen a few sharks locally over the years, but none that have been aggressive toward humans. "Obviously, we all know there's a few out there. We're all curious to learn more."
According to a city press release, Martin was part of the Triathlon Club of San Diego. There were nine swimmers training, with Martin in the middle of the pack.
"We are all stunned and deeply saddened by this rare accident," Joe Kellejian, Mayor of Solana Beach, wrote in the release. "Dr. Martin was a good man, an expert swimmer and one who knew these waters well. We wish his family well during this difficult time."
Sheriff's helicopters will scan the San Diego beaches to track any possible shark activity until 6 p.m. Coastal cities along San Diego's North and Central County will remain on high alert for the weekend from south Carlsbad State Beach to Torrey Pines State Beach, according to the release.
Triathlon athelte Scott Zornig, 48, of Coto de Caza, said the recent attack isn't enough to keep him out of the water, and sharks and other dangers are part of the reality of ocean swimming.
"I feel very bad for the family and the person that this happened to," he said. "But it will not change my feelings about swimming in the ocean.
Zornig said he purposely does not go into the water wearing a wet suit, because it makes swimmers look like seals – making them a target for great sharks.
"Those happen to be on the menu for great whites," he said.
Zornig has clocked about 2,000 miles in the ocean, doing swims such as Long Beach to Catalina. He said he once encountered a 12- to 15-foot tiger shark near Hawaii that nearly ate his swimming partner.
"We grabbed the swimmer just as the shark was lunging for him," he said. "He hasn't been in the ocean since."
There have been several recent local reports of shark sightings in Orange County. One surfer at Dog Beach said his board was bitten by a great white shark.
According to Associated Press reports, the man attacked in San Diego had a single shark bite across both legs, Solana Beach Deputy Fire Chief Dismas Abelman said.
"It looks like the shark came up, bit him, and swam away," he said.
Several swimmers wearing wet suits were in a group when the shark attacked, Solana Beach lifeguard Craig Miller said.
Miller said two swimmers were about 20 yards ahead of the man when they heard him scream for help. They turned around and dragged him back to shore. He was declared dead at 7:49 a.m., Miller said.
Swimmers were ordered out of the water for a 17-mile stretch around Solano Beach and the county Sheriff's Department sent helicopters up to scan the waters for the shark.
"The shark is still in the area. We're sure of that," Mayor Joe Kellejian said.
In Orange County, there have been several shark sighting in the past few months reported to the Shark Research Committee, a nonprofit group that tracks shark attacks.
The last fatal shark attack in California, according to data from the state Department of Fish and Game, took place on Aug. 15, 2004, in Mendocino County at Kibesillah Rock. The victim was a man diving for abalone with a friend, according to wire reports.
On Aug. 19, 2003, a woman swimmer was killed by a great white at Avila Beach in San Luis Obispo County on the central California coast. That was the state's first fatal shark attack since 1994, according to Fish and Game.
The last fatal shark attack in San Diego County was in June 1959, when a free diver was killed, Fish and Game said.
Overall, shark attacks are extremely rare. There were 71 reported worldwide last year, up from 63 in 2006. Only one attack, in the South Pacific, was fatal, according to the University of Florida.
According to the Solana Beach Web site, there had never been a shark attack off Solana Beach, which is between Cardiff by the Sea and Del Mar, just south of Orange County.
"There have only been two shark sightings in these waters within the past 30 years, both of which were blue sharks who were injured and making their way into shallow water to die," a statement on the site says.
According to Ralph Collier, president of the Shark Research Committee, there have been few known cases of great whites in Southern California: A white shark was caught off the Huntington Beach pier two years ago. There was a fatal attack of a diver in 1959 in La Jolla. And a kayaker was killed in Malibu in 1989; the other kayaker's body was never found.
He confirmed the Huntington Beach incident was a great white, and planned on picking up the board for inspection.
Huntington Beach Marine Safety Lt. Mike Baumgartner said the guy who claimed the attack never saw a shark, and safety agencies haven't seen any first hand. Huntington Beach will remain open.
"It's the Pacific Ocean; that's where sharks live," he said. "At this point, we are operating as normal."
Collier said there have been 145 attacks on the Pacific Coast since 1900, and that great whites come here to give birth during spring.
There was a report as recent as April 10 claiming a shark sighting in Orange County. Mark Wilson said he was surfing at Bolsa Chica State Beach when he saw a triangular dorsal fin moving south about 20 yards from him. "The fin was about 12 inches high and grey/brown in color. It was not threatening in any way," according to the Web site.
Shark kills triathlon trainee in Solana Beach
By LAYLAN CONNELLY
A shark attacked and killed a swimmer in Solana Beach at about 7 a.m. as he trained for a triathlon just 150 yards from shore.
The man was identified during a news conference as David Martin, a 66-year-old veterinarian of Solana Beach. Experts confirmed it was a great white shark – 12 to 17 feet long – that killed the man.
He was taken to the Fletcher Cove Park lifeguard station, where he was pronounced dead on the scene, according to a statement on the city Web site.
The beach and waters of Solana Beach have been cleared and sheriff's helicopters are scanning the shores for the animal, according to the statement. The beach could stay closed for about 72 hours.
State Parks Superintendant Rich Rozzelle said the state beaches – including nearby San Onofre – will remain open, and they have no plans to add signs warning the public.
Back in 2005 when a pair of great whites were hanging around the area, signs were posted. But until this attack, there have been no reports of sharks recently, he said.
Lifeguards in San Clemente, the southernmost Orange County city beach near San Diego County, said they were keeping the beaches open and have not sent out an alert to beach-goers. But lifeguards have had several calls come in to the station, according to lifeguard Kevin Cook.
"We haven't had any sightings or alerts. It's business is going to go on as normal around here," he said. "We're kind of right up the street here. It's close, but it's considered pretty safe around here."
Laguna lifeguards said they won't be closing the beach or sending out shark alerts.
"We're not having any sightings, and at this point in time, we're not going to do anything as far as any closures go," said Lt. Tom Trager, who said he's seen a few sharks locally over the years, but none that have been aggressive toward humans. "Obviously, we all know there's a few out there. We're all curious to learn more."
According to a city press release, Martin was part of the Triathlon Club of San Diego. There were nine swimmers training, with Martin in the middle of the pack.
"We are all stunned and deeply saddened by this rare accident," Joe Kellejian, Mayor of Solana Beach, wrote in the release. "Dr. Martin was a good man, an expert swimmer and one who knew these waters well. We wish his family well during this difficult time."
Sheriff's helicopters will scan the San Diego beaches to track any possible shark activity until 6 p.m. Coastal cities along San Diego's North and Central County will remain on high alert for the weekend from south Carlsbad State Beach to Torrey Pines State Beach, according to the release.
Triathlon athelte Scott Zornig, 48, of Coto de Caza, said the recent attack isn't enough to keep him out of the water, and sharks and other dangers are part of the reality of ocean swimming.
"I feel very bad for the family and the person that this happened to," he said. "But it will not change my feelings about swimming in the ocean.
Zornig said he purposely does not go into the water wearing a wet suit, because it makes swimmers look like seals – making them a target for great sharks.
"Those happen to be on the menu for great whites," he said.
Zornig has clocked about 2,000 miles in the ocean, doing swims such as Long Beach to Catalina. He said he once encountered a 12- to 15-foot tiger shark near Hawaii that nearly ate his swimming partner.
"We grabbed the swimmer just as the shark was lunging for him," he said. "He hasn't been in the ocean since."
There have been several recent local reports of shark sightings in Orange County. One surfer at Dog Beach said his board was bitten by a great white shark.
According to Associated Press reports, the man attacked in San Diego had a single shark bite across both legs, Solana Beach Deputy Fire Chief Dismas Abelman said.
"It looks like the shark came up, bit him, and swam away," he said.
Several swimmers wearing wet suits were in a group when the shark attacked, Solana Beach lifeguard Craig Miller said.
Miller said two swimmers were about 20 yards ahead of the man when they heard him scream for help. They turned around and dragged him back to shore. He was declared dead at 7:49 a.m., Miller said.
Swimmers were ordered out of the water for a 17-mile stretch around Solano Beach and the county Sheriff's Department sent helicopters up to scan the waters for the shark.
"The shark is still in the area. We're sure of that," Mayor Joe Kellejian said.
In Orange County, there have been several shark sighting in the past few months reported to the Shark Research Committee, a nonprofit group that tracks shark attacks.
The last fatal shark attack in California, according to data from the state Department of Fish and Game, took place on Aug. 15, 2004, in Mendocino County at Kibesillah Rock. The victim was a man diving for abalone with a friend, according to wire reports.
On Aug. 19, 2003, a woman swimmer was killed by a great white at Avila Beach in San Luis Obispo County on the central California coast. That was the state's first fatal shark attack since 1994, according to Fish and Game.
The last fatal shark attack in San Diego County was in June 1959, when a free diver was killed, Fish and Game said.
Overall, shark attacks are extremely rare. There were 71 reported worldwide last year, up from 63 in 2006. Only one attack, in the South Pacific, was fatal, according to the University of Florida.
According to the Solana Beach Web site, there had never been a shark attack off Solana Beach, which is between Cardiff by the Sea and Del Mar, just south of Orange County.
"There have only been two shark sightings in these waters within the past 30 years, both of which were blue sharks who were injured and making their way into shallow water to die," a statement on the site says.
According to Ralph Collier, president of the Shark Research Committee, there have been few known cases of great whites in Southern California: A white shark was caught off the Huntington Beach pier two years ago. There was a fatal attack of a diver in 1959 in La Jolla. And a kayaker was killed in Malibu in 1989; the other kayaker's body was never found.
He confirmed the Huntington Beach incident was a great white, and planned on picking up the board for inspection.
Huntington Beach Marine Safety Lt. Mike Baumgartner said the guy who claimed the attack never saw a shark, and safety agencies haven't seen any first hand. Huntington Beach will remain open.
"It's the Pacific Ocean; that's where sharks live," he said. "At this point, we are operating as normal."
Collier said there have been 145 attacks on the Pacific Coast since 1900, and that great whites come here to give birth during spring.
There was a report as recent as April 10 claiming a shark sighting in Orange County. Mark Wilson said he was surfing at Bolsa Chica State Beach when he saw a triangular dorsal fin moving south about 20 yards from him. "The fin was about 12 inches high and grey/brown in color. It was not threatening in any way," according to the Web site.