A kayaker was attacked by a shark Sunday morning off the coast of Malibu, according to lifeguards.
The attack was reported at about 7:30 a.m. at Paradise Cove, according to lifeguard Alex Buford. There, a man on a fishing kayak hooked a shark and brought it onto the vessel.
“The shark bit him, he let the shark go and then the shark came back and knocked him off the boat and attacked him again and bit his leg again,” Buford said.
Passengers of a nearby fishing boat helped the man get to safety after the attack, according to Buford. The severity of the victim’s injuries is unclear.
The shark involved in the attack is believed to have been a Shortfin Mako Shark, the lifeguard said. Mako sharks are known to be fast and aggressive predators, growing on average 6 to 7 feet.
“Mako sharks typically stay in deeper water, so I don’t think there’s too much concern for shallow water swimming or anything,” Buford said. “That’s why we haven’t closed down (the beach).”
