Overview
- Fire officials said the attack happened around 8:45 a.m. roughly 150 feet from shore north of the Gualala River after the surfer had been in the water less than 10 minutes.
- The surfer exited the ocean with half a board and later drove himself to a hospital for sutures.
- A companion told responders a large shark hit the surfer, launched him from the water, then bit and thrashed the board.
- The California Department of Fish and Wildlife is testing the torn wetsuit, damaged board, and wound dressings to determine the species.
- The injured man was identified in local reports as 26-year-old Tommy Civik of Point Arena.