A California surfer was attacked by a shark off the coast of Sonoma on Sunday afternoon. The man’s injuries were serious, but he is expected to survive.
A man is airlifted for serious injuries after a shark attack off the coast of Sonoma
Shortly after 9 a.m., authorities rushed to the scene at North Salmon Creek Beach, where a man in his 30s suffered serious leg injuries from a shark bite, authorities told KPIX .
Others nearby were able to help the man by applying a tourniquet made from the straps of a surfboard to his leg while they waited for emergency personnel. The man was airlifted to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital, the news outlet reports.
Surfer Jared Davis said he was paddling near the man at the time of the attack. After a swell, Davis realized the man was having an altercation with a shark.
“When he came back into view, I saw the shark’s dorsal fin and then I saw the shark’s tail fin sink into the water,” Davis said. “It definitely wasn’t a quick attack. It was nice and slow.”
After a few moments, the man was able to pull away from the shark and paddle to shore alongside Davis.
“He caught up to me and I saw his leg. It looked like he had a red stripe on his wetsuit, which is pretty common, but it was actually blood,” Davis told KPIX.
Another surfer told the Santa Rosa Press Democrat that the shark attacked the man from the side and sunk its teeth into the back of his leg.
The man’s injuries were serious, but he is expected to survive. He was conscious when paramedics assessed him, Bodega Bay Fire Capt. David Bynum told the newspaper.
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