Overview
- The surfer was identified as 26-year-old Tommy Civik of Point Arena, who was attacked around 8:45 a.m. on Jan. 13 about 150 feet offshore north of the Gualala River.
- Civik sustained puncture wounds to his upper thigh, got out of the water on his own, and drove to a hospital where he received stitches and was expected to survive.
- A friend reported seeing Civik thrown into the air as a large shark snapped his board in half before swimming away, according to local officials.
- The torn wetsuit, broken board, and wound dressings were submitted to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife for forensic DNA analysis, with results pending.
- Officials described the case as California’s first shark attack of 2026, following a record 10 incidents in 2025 as researchers note white sharks often linger near the Northern California coast in winter.