3 O.C. beaches closed after aggressive shark rushes surfer
Three Orange County beaches remained closed Friday after a more than 10-foot shark rushed toward a surfer at Sunset Beach.
The water along Bolsa Chica State Beach, Seal Beach and Sunset Beach could reopen by 4 p.m. Friday. Meanwhile, signs have been posted warning swimmers and surfers of the shark sighting.
The 44-year-old male surfer saw the large shark Thursday while he was surfing about 60 yards from the shore near 23rd Street, said Lt. Claude Panis of the Huntington Beach Fire Department’s Marine Safety division. Shortly after the sighting, a helicopter flew over the water, but the flight crew did not see the shark.
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However, safety officers later determined the shark’s actions were aggressive. The animal’s behavior and size prompted an immediate closure of area beaches.
In July, marine officials banned all swimming and surfing at Sunset Beach after a shark exhibited aggressive behavior and bumped a surfer.
It marked the first time the Huntington Fire Department’s Marine Patrol has closed water access, Panis said.
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