Public Safety
Kayaker hospitalized after shark bite off Malibu
Los Angeles County Fire said the angler was bitten while releasing a shark he had caught near Paradise Cove.
A kayaker fishing about a half-mile offshore caught a shark and was bitten while trying to release it Sunday morning, according to local reports. He fell into the water and was bitten again.
Nearby boat helped the kayaker
Passengers from a nearby fishing boat helped the man reach safety, lifeguard Alex Buford told NBC Los Angeles. Los Angeles County Fire transported him to a hospital; the severity of his injuries had not been released.
Buford said the shark was believed to be a shortfin mako. The beach remained open because mako sharks typically stay in deeper water, he said.
ABC7 reported that the fire department initially described the incident as a shark attack, then later characterized it as a fishing accident.
Read the original reports: ABC7 Los Angeles → NBC Los Angeles →