Great White suspected in Surfers death in California

Fatal Shark Attack

Great White balmed  for Surfer killed at Surf Beach, California

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 25 October, 2012 : - - On Tuesday October 23, 2012 Francisco Javier Solorio, Jr., 39, was surfing with a companion near Surf Beach located at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Lompoc, California. It was 11:50 AM and they were sitting upright on their surfboards about 100 yards from shore waiting for the next set. His companion had been speaking with Solorio and turned to look toward the beach. While looking forward, out of his periphery, he saw a large shark come up out of the water, pulling Solorio off his board, dragging him underwater.

The companion started moving toward his friend when Solorio suddenly emerged and grabbed his board with both hands. He asked for help and lapsed into unconsciousness. His companion pulled him to shore and one of two surfers in the parking lot called 911. Paramedics attempted to administer CPR but were unsuccessful. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene. Solorio sustained a massive bite to his left mid-torso, extending down to the upper left thigh.
The bottom of his board was struck by the shark’s lower jaw, leaving identifiable tooth impressions. ‘Interspace measurements’ of the tooth impressions in the surfboard and victim are consistent with the dental pattern of a Great White Shark 15 – 16 feet in length. Officials closed the beaches in the area for 72 hours.

The publication “Shark Attacks of the Twentieth Century” authenticated 108 unprovoked shark attacks from the Pacific Coast between 1900 and 1999. The Great White Shark, Carcharodon carcharias, was implicated in 94 (87%) of the 108 confirmed attacks with an annual average from 1950 – 1999 of slightly more than 2 shark attacks per year. There have been 71 unprovoked shark attacks confirmed since 2000, which includes 5 fatalities and 7 incidents year-to-date for 2012. This is three times the Twentieth Century annual average of 2 attacks per year.

The Great White Shark was either positively identified or highly suspect in 62 (87%) of the 71 attacks, with 34 (48%) of the 71 occurring during the three month period August (10), September (9), and October (15). There have been 179 authenticated unprovoked shark attacks reported from the Pacific Coast of North America from 1900 to October 24, 2012. The Great White Shark was positively identified or highly suspect in 156 (87%) of the 179 cases. There were 8 fatal shark attacks confirmed during the 20th Century with 5 fatal attacks reported from 2000 to 2011. The 13 fatal attacks represent 7% of the 179 total cases.

Victim activity for the 71 shark attacks reported since 2000 are distributed in the following ocean user groups; surfers 48 (68%) of the documented attacks, with 5 swimmers (8%), 7 kayakers (10%), 4 divers (6%), 4 paddle boarders (6%), 1 windsurfer (1%), and 1 boogie boarder (1%).

Additional information regarding the Shark Research Committee’s conservation, education, and research programs are available at:  www.sharkresearchcommittee.com

www.sharkresearchcommittee.com

Source: SRC

Author: The Editors

Tags: Shark attack, Surf Beach,

Sharks: Surfersvillage