San Diego Coast Closed After Shark Attack

Triathlete Dies After Encounter With Suspected Great White Shark

(AP)  Authorities kept watch Saturday over a stretch of Southern California beaches, scanning the waters for a shark they believe killed a triathlete a day earlier.

While authorities advised against going in the ocean from north San Diego to Carlsbad, they said they expect to see people heading into the water to escape the region's summery temperatures.

"We're not going to make any arrests or anything" if people go into the water, "but we'll go talk to them," said David Ott, Solana Beach's public safety director.

Helicopters kept searching for signs of the shark that killed triathlete David Martin, Solana Beach Lifeguard Capt. Craig Miller said.

Martin, 66, died on the beach Friday morning after a shark, presumed to be a great white, lifted him out of the water with his legs in its jaws, leaving deep lacerations and shredding Martin's black wetsuit.

Martin, a retired veterinarian, was the first shark fatality in San Diego County since 1994. Prior to that, the last known fatal attack in the area was in 1959.

Even die-hards said word of the attack gave them pause.

"I just got the chills," said Tom Halmos, 36, a regular surfer who biked down to the cove after the attack. "I'm definitely going to go back out but I think the heart rate will be up the first time I do, that's for sure."

Halmos said he planned to stay on dry land for at least the next few days.

"There will be a million beautiful weekends - what's one less?" he asked.

Experts said the likelihood of finding the shark that attacked Martin was slim.

Sharks are rare in the water off Southern California, though female great white sharks sometimes come south from their usual territory in the cooler waters of the central and northern coast to pup. Few make the mistake of attacking humans instead of seals or sea lions, their usual prey.

"It's just very bad luck for that one man," said Richard Rosenblatt, a professor emeritus of marine biology at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography in San Diego.

Rosenblatt said he believed the bite pattern on Martin's legs indicated the shark was almost certainly a great white that may have been 12 feet to 17 feet long. The sharks, the largest ocean predators, can weigh up to 5,000 pounds, according to National Geographic.

The attack was unusual because it took place over a sandy bottom, Rosenblatt said. Sharks typically attack over rocks, which provide better camouflage.

Solana Beach is 14 miles northwest of San Diego.

Earlier this year, stories of shark sightings swept the coast from San Diego County north through Orange and Los Angeles counties, the Los Angeles Times reported in late March.

The state's last fatal shark attack took place on Aug. 15, 2004, off the coast of northern California's Mendocino County, according to data from the state Department of Fish and Game. The victim was a man diving for shellfish with a friend. 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.

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.

The university's International Shark Attack File has counted an average of 4.1 people killed by sharks annually worldwide in the past seven years.

[fibonacci_]

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[guadalcanal3]

When you wear a black wetsuit it looks just like a seal...just the fact that the shark did ''not'' continue it''s attack and eat the victim...says that it was a case of mistaken identity...They should only hunt the shark down if it ate somebody..but like most shark attacks the shark spit the victim out and continued on it''s way. (humans are not their regular diet)

[rushlimpdrug]

"Experts said the likelihood of finding the shark that attacked Martin was slim."

Oh c''mon how hard can it be to find a shark with
a toothpick in his mouth?

[beehive21-2009]

Sharks are only one of the many dangers of the Ocean,the waves will kill you also.17 feet long ? that''s one big fish,poor guy.

[taylor2124]

The only sad thing is that the shark didn''t attack and kill j-whitman, McVet, Fibonacci, newster, BrianBWB,IOWEIGN,FloydZepp,Neoconism, and FeelFree1. All in one swipe. Now, THAT would have ruled. I''d have whipped out the credit card big-time to buy a front-row seat to see that red frothing in the ocean. Yeee---frickin--HAAA.

[rushlimpdrug]

I''m sorry but this whole story sounds a bit fishy
to me.

Why would a guy yell, "Shark!"

Wouldn''t he yell, "Help!"

I think they''re setting up the shark.

[sblake63]

But this is Bush''s fault right? Lmao

[fibonacci_]

I think it is stupid to close the beaches - I mean, the sharks are always going to be out there. I dont think it is any more likely that someone will get attacked now than in 1 month. That is unless they found a whole load of sharks - an unusually high concentration.

[dat1guysd]

once you''ve entered the water you''ve just become part of the food chain. that is the sharks domain. humans catch and cut off the sharks fins for soup. you think the human race would freak out if the sharks were able too start coming out of the water for their revenge? mistaken identity or not, sharks and other animals have their God given right too survive also.

[fibonacci_]

Sharks coming out of the water - looooooooooooool! I love it!

[downsteamjim]

The shark claimed it tastes like chicken. He just wished he had some fauva beans and a nice chianti.

[rushlimpdrug]

Do sharks prefer people that
taste great
or are less filling?

[tucano2]

It''s ridiculous. One finned animal and miles of the Western border along the coast is closed down. Millions of two-legged criminals and still the Southern border is not closed down.

[robertkjjj]

Old news. Beaches are open again. It was no more dangerous an hour after this attack than it has been the last 50 years. You''re a hundred times more likely to die from a bee sting or dog attack today than ever even SEE a great white shark in San Diego.