Swimmer Missing After Reported Shark Encounter in California
A search is still underway for a missing swimmer in California waters following a reported shark encounter, despite the U.S. Coast Guard ending its efforts. The National Park Service provided an update on the situation through social media, highlighting the ongoing quest for the missing individual.
The Point Reyes National Seashore, in a Twitter post, stated that the search was continuing off Wildcat Beach, sharing a photo of the ongoing search with a boat in the water and a helicopter in the air. The 52-year-old male swimmer was with two friends, and although witnesses mentioned a shark, an official attack remains unconfirmed. The incident occurred on Sunday, and ground and water search efforts are still being carried out with local agency support.
The Coast Guard’s involvement in the search concluded on Monday morning, as per The Associated Press. They were unable to locate the individual, making it impossible to confirm the nature of the incident, whether it was a shark attack or not.
Marin County firefighters reported that the three men went for a swim at Wildcat Beach on Sunday, and one of them was reportedly attacked by a shark. According to CBS San Francisco, the other swimmers recounted seeing a large pool of blood in the water, and they were swimming between 25 and 50 yards from the shoreline.
Marin County Fire Department Senior Captain Ben Ghisletta expressed hope that the missing swimmer would be found, stating that this could potentially be the first fatal shark attack in the Marin County area.
Authorities also revealed that the three swimmers, including the missing individual, were camping with a group of up to 15 people near the beach.
Wildcat Beach is a 2.9-mile-long stretch located within the Phillip Burton Wilderness in the southern part of the national seashore, as per the National Park Service’s website. Visitors are reminded to be aware of beach hazards like hypothermia, sneaker waves, and rip currents while exploring Point Reyes Beaches.
The search for the missing swimmer continues as officials hope for a positive outcome in this challenging situation.