SAN CLEMENTE, California (AP) — A 2-mile (3.2-kilometer) stretch of a popular Southern California beach was closed over the Memorial Day holiday after a shark knocked a surfer off his surfboard. table the night before, authorities said.
The 24-hour closure in San Clemente was announced after the surfer came out of the water and reported the shark’s aggressive behavior to lifeguards at approximately 8 p.m. Sunday, the Orange County Register reported.
The surfer, who was uninjured, was knocked down after seeing a large, dark object moving toward him, said Lt. Sean Staubenbaur of San Clemente Marine Safety.
The arena remained open to the public, but people were warned to stay out of the water until 8 p.m. Monday.
Although he was disappointed, the closure didn’t hinder 6-year-old Waylon Andino’s plans to raise money with a lemonade stand.
“It’s Memorial Day weekend, we’re going to make the most of it and still have fun with the kids and enjoy each other’s company,” Kylie Andino, Waylon’s mother, told the Register.
The sighting of a shark measuring 3 meters (10 feet) or larger forces a closure, usually for several hours, while any type of aggressive behavior results in a 24-hour closure, as long as there are no new shark sightings.
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2024-05-29 20:27:34