April 25, 2008 - Fatal Shark Attack Off Coast Near San Diego

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April 25, 2008 – A 66-year old man identified as Dave Martin died this morning after being attacked by a shark near San Diego. The man was swimming approximately 150 yards off of the shore at Solana Beach with a triathlon club, when witnesses heard him shout “Shark!” They then saw him lifted up out of the water before being pulled under. The man resurfaced and other swimmers went to his aid, pulling him back to shore. He had been bitten across both legs, and later died at the scene despite attempts by paramedics to save him.

The shark is believed to have been a great white, possibly up to 17 feet long. Rob Hill, also a member of the triathlon club, who was running with some other members on the beach at the time of the attack, said that he and Martin had been members of the club for 6 years and had never seen a shark in the area. Solana Beach is 14 miles north of San Diego.

The last fatal shark attack off of the California coast occurred in 2004, off the coast of Mendocino County. Prior to that, a woman had been killed by a great white near San Luis Obispo in Central California. The beaches at Solana Beach and nearby Encinitas County, accounting for a total stretch of about 8 miles, will be closed for the next 72 hours as a precautionary measure.

Last year, a total of 71 shark attacks worldwide were reported.