Shark Assaults Man Trying 20-Mile Swim From Catalina Island

A 54-year-old man was bit by a shark early Tuesday morning whereas trying a 20-mile swim from Catalina Island to the Los Angeles County mainland.

The man — who was trying the distinguished Catalina Channel swim — was bit by the shark close to the island’s Doctor’s Cove. The swimmer was accompanied by a ship through the try; he was introduced aboard the boat after the incident and the vessel headed towards the mainland, Fox 11 reported.

Firefighters and paramedics had been dispatched at round 1:30 a.m.to a location about 12 miles off the coast of Catalina, in line with the Los Angeles Fire Department.

The swimmer had acquired first support by the point the LAFD boat arrived, KTLA reported.

“He had minor wounds to his leg, and they were already wrapped up,” Fireboat Pilot Shaun Corby instructed KTLA. “We simply grabbed the sufferer and transported him again to our station, and transported him to the hospital.

Authorities mentioned the shark was seemingly a juvenile nice white. The animal “just nipped at his leg, his foot. And then took off,” Corby instructed Fox 11. He famous the violent encounter was a “rare” one.

The man was listed in honest situation at a hospital, in line with the LAFD.

Swimming the Catalina Channel is among the many hottest marathon swims on the earth. It’s a part of the Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming, together with the English Channel swim and Swim Around Manhattan.

Over 700 individuals have efficiently accomplished solo swims of the channel since 1927, according to the Catalina Channel Swimming Federation.

Swimmers typically begin at midnight with the intention to keep away from afternoon winds. Most swimmers full nearly all of the feat in full darkness, in line with the federation.

City News Service contributed to this report.