Caleb : “Southern California Shark Attack: Rescuers Recall Ordeal”

Three brave swimmers are being hailed as heroes after their quick actions helped rescue a 46-year-old man who was attacked by a shark at a beach in Southern California. The incident occurred on June 2 at the 17^th Street Beach Safety Center in Del Mar. The victim, identified only as Caleb, suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries to his chest, arms, and hands during the shark attack.

Kevin Barret, one of the rescuers, vividly described the moment of the attack, stating, “It was kind of a blood-curdling scream, you know that there’s something wrong.” Alongside Barret, Cameron Whiting and Jenna Veal recounted the harrowing experience to KTLA’s Rachel Menitoff.

Veal recalled the tense moment when the shark attacked Caleb, stating, “It was definitely just hearing it and then somehow he was able to put his hands up, really like the unimaginable happening before our eyes.” The trio explained that Caleb fought back against the shark by punching it, leading to injuries on his arms and hands.

Whiting shared the fear they experienced during the rescue, saying, “One, it’s that you’re swimming into where there was just a shark attack, but probably scarier than that was not knowing what you were going to encounter when you got there. We didn’t know the condition he was going to be in when we got to him.”

The swimmers managed to get Caleb onto a surfboard, with Whiting paddling him back to shore. An emergency room doctor who happened to be on the beach provided crucial assistance by advising on how to treat Caleb’s injuries, including putting a tourniquet around his arm to stop the bleeding.

Following the shark attack, authorities closed the waters off the beach as technicians from the California State University, Long Beach Shark Lab worked to determine the type of shark involved in the incident. They collected a DNA swab from the victim’s wetsuit but indicated that they might not be able to link it to a previous shark attack in San Clemente on May 27, where a surfer reported being knocked off his board by an aggressive shark.

Zach Merson, a technician at the CSULB Shark Lab, emphasized the importance of identifying the shark involved in the attack to make informed decisions regarding beach closures. “Having more information about the identity of the shark, as well as its behavior following the incident, will help us make better management decisions,” Merson stated.

Barret, Whiting, and Veal emphasized the importance of swimming in groups to ensure the safety of all swimmers. Barret said, “It’s the natural world. We’re a part of it. We’ll do what we can to stay safe in it.”

While shark attacks along the Southern California coast are rare, experts suggest that sharks may sometimes mistake swimmers for other prey in murky waters. The incident serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of the ocean and the need to always remain vigilant while enjoying its beauty.