Cali Swimmers Work Together To Save Man After Shark Attack

This past weekend, experienced ocean swimmer Cameron Whiting was bodysurfing at Del Mar Beach when a member of his swimming group screamed about a shark attack. According to the LA TIMES, the victim, a 46-year-old man, was badly bleeding from his injuries. Whiting and another swimmer, Kevin Barrett, quickly swam to help the man, despite fears of encountering the shark themselves.

Barrett reached the victim first, followed closely by Whiting, who noticed the extent of the bleeding as they started to pull him toward the shore. A surfer offered his board to help get the injured man to shore. Whiting and Barrett, along with the woman who initially called for help, managed to get the man onto the board and paddle him to shore, where lifeguards and an emergency room doctor were ready to take over care.

The victim sustained deep cuts from punching the shark and severe bites to his torso. He was stabilized and taken to a nearby hospital, where he is expected to recover. Del Mar Beach was closed for 48 hours following the incident, with officials urging calm and pointing out the rarity of shark attacks. Despite the ordeal, Whiting and his swimming group have no intention of stopping swimming in the ocean and already have plans to go out soon, but maybe to a different beach.

Yikes! I know Shark Week is over, but this story got my attention quickly. Every year, around shark week and during the busy summer months, reports come out about sharks. Whether it's what to do if you see a shark, reports of shark attacks, and where the sharks most likely are. When the summer comes and the beaches get a bit busier, patrol spikes more and everyone is on alert for sharks. I am not a big beach water fan, I will go to enjoy the scenery and layout but actually getting into the water, it's a no for me.

CNN is reporting some of the most shark-filled waters across the world. Just last year, over 50 unprovoked shark attacks were reported, according to CNN. So, what does this all mean? Using data on reported shark attacks, we're looking at what areas had the most shark attacks over some years. Unfortunately, both North and South Carolina made the list with quite a bit of shark attacks over the last few years. Below will only show what US states made the list, but to check out the full report click here.

Of course, Florida was going to make this list. With the state being a peninsula, majority of its coast is nothing but water. Specifically, Florida’s Volusia County is the prime location for shark attacks and sightings across the state. Official reports state that between 2pm and 3 pm on a September afternoon is prime time for sharks in the area. So, be careful!

Another spot that of course has tons of water around it, the island of Hawaii made the list as well. With 76 shark bites, the island of Maui is one of the top places in Hawaii for shark encounters. The under water terrain that the area has to offer is a huge attraction for shark visits. Just this past May, a tiger shark attacked a fisherman in shallow water in a kayak. Scary!

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Here we are talking about the Carolinas. South Carolina making the list with reports of 45 shark bites over the years. Fortunately, none of the unprovoked 45 shark attacks were deadly in South Carolina. Major cities when it comes to these attacks are Charleston, Beufort, and Horry (Myrtle Beach area).  South Carolina has tons of beautiful beaches but sharks are certainly randomly placed in shallow ends of the areas as well.

Did you know San Diego is one of shark bite peak spots in California? Out of the 29 bites, 20 of the shark bites were unprovoked attacks. Although stats show they shark attacks are at a peak in the summer, they can happen throughout the year over there as well.