10-Foot Shark Bites Chunk of Man’s Surfboard in California Attack: “I Saw This Big Mouth…”

by

42-year-old surfer Jens Heller, hailing from the Bay Area, was surfing in the waters of California’s Montara State Beach on May 31, around 3 PM. Suddenly, while he was still on his board, a large shark appeared and knocked him into the water.

On his board, Heller found himself as a shark suddenly bit his foot, causing him to lose balance. Upon resurfacing, it turned out that the shark had been chewing on his surfboard.

In a nutshell, Heller shared with SFGATE that he was seated on his board when something beneath it caused him discomfort, sending him tumbling off. Upon looking back, he spotted a large mouth clinging to his board. He instinctively pushed the board towards the shark and attempted to swim away, but the shark quickly released his board and swam off. Heller then swiftly retrieved his board and hurried towards shore before venturing back into the water.

For More on Sharks

What Drives Someone to Swim Six Miles Daily in the Alleged Shark-Inhabited Waters, Akin to the Scenes in Jaws? An Examination of Sharks 50 Years After Jaws and Discovery of Their Most Unusual (Fascinating) Species

Surfer narrowly escapes shark bite at California’s Montara State Beach

As I witnessed the unfolding events, my mind instantly conjured images reminiscent of “Jaws” – a classic thriller now available from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. The specter of killer sharks lurking in coastal waters sent shivers down my spine, causing me to fear for the safety of beachgoers. However, it’s crucial to dispel such fears as I learned that the reality about shark bites is far less severe than one might initially imagine. On a global scale, the annual average number of reported shark bites barely exceeds 100, with most incidents resulting in non-fatal outcomes.

More often than not, shark bites occur out of curiosity or defense rather than intent to attack. It’s similar to how a baby explores objects by putting them in their mouth, except these ‘babies’ have mouths lined with razor-sharp teeth. Luckily, this instance ended without any harm to anyone, only causing damage to a surfboard. Unlike the stereotypical shark bite leaving a large, round hole, this one left only an evident pattern of puncture marks and jagged lines where the teeth made contact.

Heller recounted to Powerlines Productions on Instagram that he suddenly recalled being in the water, turning around, and spotting a large black shape with menacing teeth – which he later identified as a shark. In a rush, he attempted to snatch his board quickly and swim back to safety. Two other surfers nearby also returned to shore, and one of them estimated the shark’s size to be approximately 10 feet. Heller only caught a glimpse of its face, and with adrenaline pumping through him, he couldn’t provide a precise description.

Following my return to land by kayak, I alerted the lifeguards, prompting them to clear the water, and as a result, the beach remained off-limits for a period of 48 hours.

Montara Beach temporarily closed after shark attack

An unusual day unfolded at Montara State Beach as a dead whale appeared on the shore, as reported by NBC News. Earlier in the day, around 2:00 p.m., lifeguards and officials were dispatched to the site of a previous shark attack to clear the waters and temporarily close the beach for 48 hours. The California State Parks issued a statement about this situation through Surfer magazine.

Around 2 PM today, lifeguards and peace officers from the State Park rushed to a non-harmful shark encounter that took place around 100 yards out in the sea at Montara State Beach in San Mateo County. The surfboard showed signs of damage that seemed like it was bitten by a shark. Immediately, lifeguards evacuated the water and put up warning signs about sharks on the beach, which will remain in effect for 48 hours following the incident. California State Parks would like to emphasize that sharks are crucial components of the coastal environment, and encounters between humans and sharks are relatively uncommon.

As I’m typing this, Montara State Beach is currently open again. However, Heller isn’t deterred from surfing; just don’t expect to see him at Montara for the moment.

Heller mentioned that he’ll venture back into the water but likely won’t return to this beach soon. The experience made him appreciate life more, emphasizing the ocean’s dominance. You simply cannot tame it; it does as it pleases with you.

Kick off the initial blockbuster of the summer by grabbing the special 50th Anniversary edition of Jaws, now available from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment.

Read More

2025-06-03 21:17