Great White Shark Attacks Kayaker In California, Leaves 12-Inch Bite Mark In Boat

A great white shark attacked a kayak in Santa Cruz Tuesday, according to a press release from the Santa Cruz Fire Department (SCRD). The SCRD confirmed the news after the seasoned boater, who had a handheld VHF radio with him during the incident, called to report the attack. The kayaker did not sustain injuries from the attack, but the Kevlar kayak was damaged.

All water activities, such as swimming and kayaking, will be prohibited from beach access points for four days as a part of the Santa Cruz County Shark Incident Action Plan. Citizens will be able to resume activities in the prohibited locations after sunrise on Saturday, July 15. Prohibited beach access points that are within a one-mile radius of the attack include Main Beach and Cowell Beach, among other locations.

Read: Shark Attacks Man At Nude Beach After Lifeguard Tries To Chase It Away

Jim Frawley, a Santa Cruz Fire Chief, claimed that attacks like these are "rare" in Santa Cruz County.

"Attacks like these are extremely rare in Santa Cruz County, and we are so thankful that the kayaker was uninjured," Frawley said in a statement. "This is a reminder that swimming in the ocean does carry some risk and we encourage all swimmers, surfers, and kayakers to be mindful of their surroundings and follow directions of lifeguards and Marine Safety staff."

Steve Lawson was identified by KSBW 8, an NBC affiliate, as the victim of the shark attack. Lawson reportedly felt something poke his kayak, causing him to look down and discover the great white shark below him. The shark attacked his kayak, tampering with the front of the boat first. Lawson, as a result, fell into the water with the predator.

The shark destroyed Lawson's kayak, reportedly leaving a 12-inch long bite mark on the boat.

Read: Shark Attacks Swimmer Off Florida's Haulover Beach, Suspected Bull Shark Bites Legs

"They got out there and pulled him to safety," Frawley said, according to The Mercury News. "This was someone who knows what he’s doing. He’s very well versed."

Other surfers and swimmers were reported to be nearby during the time of the attack. The surfers and swimmers were told to vacate the water by the SCFD after the attack was confirmed.

"[A]ll partner agencies in the area have been notified and Santa Cruz Junior Guard activities will be modified for the week," according to the SCFD. Beachgoers will still be able to enjoy the beach, but they aren't allowed in the water.

The SCRD won't penalize those who do not follow in accordance with the city's Shark Incident Action Plan. However, marine safety staff and lifeguards will patrol the prohibited regions.

"We're not going to arrest people out of the water. We can't haul everybody out of the water," Deputy City Manager Scott Collins told KSBW.

This isn't the first report of an attack from a great white shark off the Southern California coast. A woman was attacked by a great white shark in May, according to Santa Cruz Sentinel. The attack reportedly left the woman in critical condition, causing her to go into a coma.

Several great white sharks have been spotted along the Southern California coast as the temperatures have grown hotter, including a stranded great white shark that was reported to have been spotted April in Santa Cruz, according to CW affiliate KTLA.

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