Shark Kills Man; SoCal Beaches Closed

Beaches north of San Diego were closed today after a man was fatally injured by a shark, the Union-Tribune reports. While witnesses could identify “the culprit” only as a “big gray shark,” an expert contacted by the Los Angeles Times said, “This almost certainly was a great white shark.” Attacks in the area are “unheard of.”

The last confirmed shark fatality was in 1994. In addition to the attack today, seals have been beaching themselves in the area. “Those are signs that say this isn't the place to go,” a lifeguard said. “We have one person fatally wounded and we have sea life exiting the water. It's better to stay out of the water and give it time.” (More San Diego stories.)