Shark attacks man during marathon Catalina-to-L.A. swim

"A 3-to-4-foot-long shark bit a man attempting to swim the 20-plus miles from Santa Catalina Island to San Pedro early Tuesday in a "rare attack," according to authorities. The finned culprit "nipped" at the unidentified 54-year-old swimmer, causing non-life-threatening injuries to the man's leg and foot, according to Los Angeles Fire Department Capt. Adam VanGerpen. "He was awake and talking and sitting up," VanGerpen said of the swimmer. "He suffered only mild distress.""

"A trailing boat and crew were monitoring the man during his swim. He was attacked about 12 miles off Catalina, according to authorities. The LAFD dispatched four boats toward the swimmer's vessel at a speed of about 40 knots. The first fire boat reached him in about 40 minutes, roughly eight miles from San Pedro. The victim was tended to by two paramedics before arriving on the mainland."

The swimmer was a 54-year-old believed to be participating in a solo long-distance swim from Santa Catalina Island to San Pedro, departing around midnight. A 3-to-4-foot shark nipped his leg and foot about 12 miles off Catalina, causing non-life-threatening injuries. A trailing boat and crew monitored the swimmer and pulled him from the water after an emergency call at 1:37 a.m. The Los Angeles Fire Department dispatched four boats; the first arrived in about 40 minutes, roughly eight miles from San Pedro. Two paramedics tended the victim, who was awake, talking, and sent to a nontrauma facility. LAFD officials described the attack as rare.

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