Popular California beach closed for the holiday after shark bumped surfer off his board

SAN CLEMENTE, Calif. (AP) — A 2-mile (3.2-kilometer) stretch of a popular Southern California beach was closed for the Memorial Day holiday after a shark bumped a surfer off his board the night before, authorities said.
The 24-hour closure at San Clemente was announced after the surfer came out of the water and reported the shark’s aggressive behavior to lifeguards around 8 p.m. Sunday, the Orange County Register reported.
The surfer, who wasn’t hurt, was bumped after seeing a large, dark object swimming toward him, San Clemente Marine Safety Lt. Sean Staubenbaur said.
The sand remained open to the public, but beachgoers were warned to stay out of the water until 8 p.m. Monday.
Though disappointed, the closure didn’t stop 6-year-old Waylon Andino’s plans for a lemonade fundraiser.
“It’s Memorial Day weekend, we’ll live it up and have fun with the kids regardless and enjoy each other’s company,” Waylon’s mom, Kylie Andino, told the Register.
A sighting of a shark 10 feet (3 meters) or longer calls for a closure, usually for several hours, while any kind of aggressive behavior automatically prompts a 24-hour shutdown, pending no additional shark sightings.

Recent Posts

‘Emilia Pérez’ Triumphs at Césars, Karla Sofia Gascón Present

In a glittering ceremony in Paris, the Césars, often hailed as the French equivalent of…

34 minutes ago

‘Oscar Hoped ‘Emilia Pérez’ Triumphs at Césars with Gascón’

PARIS — The movie "Emilia Pérez" recently garnered the prestigious title of best French film…

34 minutes ago

Pope Recovers from Bronchial Spasm With Rest, Coffee

ROME — Pope Francis is recovering after a recent health scare that posed a serious…

34 minutes ago

Kurdish Group Halts 40-Year Conflict in Turkey

In a significant development that could impact Turkey's political landscape, Kurdish militants announced a ceasefire…

60 minutes ago

Historic move: Trump to declare English as America’s official language

President Trump is set to sign a game-changing executive order. This order will make English…

1 hour ago

Halle Berry is fed up with being the only black woman to have won an Oscar

Halle Berry made history in 2002 when she became the first Black woman to win…

1 hour ago