The 15-year-old Long Beach girl is recovering after a horrifying and unexpected sea encounter with a sea lion who attacked her over the weekend.
The March 30 incident happened in what was supposed to be a big day for Phoebe Bertrand and her family as they were about to go out to complete a swimming test for the Cadet Lifeguard Program in Long Beach.
“Out of nowhere, I feel something biting my arm,” the teen told KTLA’s Sandra Mitchell. “I saw the shadow of it, and what I’m thinking is, “Don’t become a shark. Leave my arm and don’t kill me.” ”
It wasn’t a shark. Instead, it is an aggressive sea lion, some of which can weigh up to 700 pounds at 6 feet when fully matured.
Phoebe Beltran, 15, attacked an offensive sea lion on March 30, 2025 when he test swimped a lifeguard cadet in Long Beach. Long Beach Guard Cadet (Bibi Beltran) Phoebe Beltran (Bibi Beltran) attacked an offensive sea lion on March 30, 2025 when he test swimped a lifeguard Cadet in Long Beach on March 30, 2025. Sea lions found on the beaches of Southern California in this undated file photo. (KTLA) Sea lion rafts seen in Southern California waters in this undated file photo. (KTLA)
On the beach, Phoebe’s mother, Vivi Bertrand, also realized something was wrong, and thought her daughter had come face to face with the shark.
“Someone yelled ‘shark’ when he saw something coming out like fins,” she explained. “We all rushed to the water. When I realized it was my daughter, that was when I broke down.”
Causes of death determined for three young American women who died at Belize Resort
The sea lion left a 15-year-old with several bites, causing injuries to the arm and hand. Thankfully, she was not seriously injured, except for feeling swelling and wounds.
The lifeguard swam to his teens as quickly as possible, grabbed her, returned her to the shore and took her to the emergency room.
“It’s just a horrifying idea,” her mother told KTLA. “She could have been pulled down. I thought it was the worst.”
For now, Phoebe is outside of water and healing, but once she is fully recovered, she looks forward to trying out the Lifeguard Cadet.
“I love the beach, I love the ocean, I love swimming,” she said.
Source link
