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Sometimes surfers catch terrible waves, sometimes sharks catch surfers.
Fortunately, for one California surfer, a shark swimming in the waters of San Mateo County over the weekend was able to get only a sample of surfboards. According to reports from the San Francisco Chronicle, Jens Heller was about 100 yards offshore at Montara State Beach, sitting on the board on Saturday when the shark attacked.
Heller, his wife and six-month-old daughter had settled there as they couldn’t find the ideal surfing conditions at two other beach spots that day.
He paddled out onto the board and was in the water for about 10-15 minutes when he thought his feet and board hit the rocks.
“I was sitting on the board and I felt something kick off the board under my feet,” Heller told Surf Outlet Powerline Productions. “I looked back and saw this big mouth grabbing my board.”
He saw black eyes and shark teeth as he tried to get back to the board. He swam back to the shore and felt like he was moving in slow motion, Heller told the outlet.
“I think it’s my lucky day,” Heller said. “I can’t believe I didn’t get that at all. What is my chance?”
As he reached the shore and his adrenaline began to wear out, he paniced and checked to see if he had been bitten. Lifeguards cleaned the water and the beach was closed for two days.
Heller said that state parks and wildlife officials had swabs on the beach on his board to analyze the shark’s DNA, then asked him to take the board to analyze the shark bites.
Officials said they hope to determine the shark species within the next week.
Despite all the excitement, Heller said the experience wouldn’t keep him away from the water.
Saturday’s incident marks the second-recorded shark encounter this year in California, according to the Department of Fish and Wildlife. On May 20, a shark attacked a swimmer at Torrey Pines State Beach in San Diego, with no injuries reported.
Scientists believe that most shark cases are not predatory, but rather “exploratory bites from sharks examining unusual objects.” Sharks also mistake humans for normal diets like seals and sea lions.
Authorities say boy sharks, who can reach up to 10 feet in length, are used to hunting bigger prey, and therefore charge or bump large objects as a potential learning experience.
White sharks are also known as the great white sharks, and are the most active in San Mateo County, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Since 1950, 195 white shark attacks have been recorded in California. Most of these attacks involved kayak surfers, freeds and people.
Authorities say in June 2021, a white shark bit a man swimming about a mile north of Montala Beach. The shark bites the man with his right leg and he is taken to the hospital in serious condition, but he survives.
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