A 13-year-old boy was critically injured in a harrowing shark attack Tuesday morning while diving for lobsters just offshore at Beacon’s Beach.
The incident occurred around 7 a.m. in approximately nine feet of water, roughly 150 yards from shore, on the first day of the lobster fishing season. The youngster suffered multiple bites to his upper torso, leaving a dramatic trail of blood in the water as he struggled back toward safety.
Witnesses described a scene of immediate chaos and heroism. Other divers, including an off-duty police officer and an off-duty lifeguard, rushed to the boy’s aid and carried him ashore. One rescuer, Chad Hamel, who was diving with friends, recounted the terrifying moment:
“I got bit!!” the boy yelled. Hamel paddled over to find “a big wake of blood behind him. His entire back was open.”
The boy remained conscious and alert as rescuers transported him up the beach. He was quickly airlifted by helicopter, which landed directly on the sand, to Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego. More than nine hours after the attack, hospital officials reported that the boy had undergone surgery and remained in critical but stable condition.
Lifeguard Captain Larry Giles praised the rapid response, noting the boy’s resilience: “He was conscious, he was above water, and the bystanders were able to get him up on the beach. He was talking all the way to when he was being transported.” Giles described the injuries as traumatic upper torso wounds.
Lifeguards immediately cleared the water, closing approximately four miles of beach for the next 48 hours. A nearby surfing competition was cancelled as a precaution. In the hours following the attack, authorities reported no further signs of shark activity, though a seal had been spotted in the area earlier. Witnesses estimated the shark to be about 11 feet long, though its species has not been confirmed.
The swift actions of the civilian rescuers were credited with helping stabilize the situation before emergency responders arrived. The coordinated effort highlighted the close-knit community of divers active that morning.
This incident marks a serious but rare shark encounter in the region. The most recent fatal shark attack in the area occurred in 2008, when a swimmer was killed at Solana Beach.
As authorities monitor the waters, the focus remains on the young victim’s recovery following what witnesses described as a sudden and violent encounter in otherwise calm morning conditions.