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Shark Bites Surfer Off California Coast
14 Jan
Summary
- A surfer sustained serious thigh injuries from a shark bite near Gualala.
- The incident marks California's first reported shark attack of 2026.
- A witness reported the shark swam off with half of the surfer's board.
The waters off Mendocino County became the site of California's first reported shark attack of 2026 on January 13th. A 26-year-old surfer experienced a harrowing encounter approximately 150 feet from the shore, near the Gualala River, sustaining serious injuries to his thigh.
Witnesses described the shark as large and reported it swam away with a significant portion of the victim's surfboard. Emergency crews responded to the scene after the surfer had already extracted himself from the ocean. He was later treated at a hospital, receiving multiple stitches for his wounds.
This incident follows another fatal shark attack in Monterey Bay less than a month prior, where a triathlete disappeared. Data indicates the world averages 65 shark attacks annually, with about six fatal encounters reported each year.
