Overview

• The State Parks Monterey District has opened an inquiry into why its on-duty lifeguard did not respond when a sea lion attacked Corale Olsen during a surf camp session at Asilomar State Beach.
• Surf instructor Alex De Marignac rescued Olsen and her siblings by carrying them to shore after the animal lunged and bit the young surfer.
• Olsen received emergency treatment for puncture wounds and bruising and is recovering well, with plans to return to the water.
• Officials say this is the first aggressive sea lion incident in Monterey County and are reviewing lifeguard protocols to rebuild public trust.
• Experts caution that recurring domoic acid–producing algal blooms have impaired sea lion behavior, urging beachgoers to keep a safe distance from marine mammals.