Male surfer, 31, is killed by ‘great white’ shark off California coast on Christmas Eve

• A male surfer, 31, was pulled from the water off of Morro Strand Beach, 200 miles north of Los Angeles, around 10.45a.m. today
• The victim was not responsive after being brought to land, despite paramedics’ efforts to save his life
• The surfer’s identity was not immediately released and officials have ordered people to stay out of the water for 24 hours
• Authorities said the attack appears to have been recent based on the condition of the surfer’s body, who might have been killed by a great white
• Before today, only three non-fatal shark attacks occurred in California this year

A surfer was killed in an apparent shark attack – possibly a great white – on Christmas Eve off the central coast of California, authorities said.

The male surfer, 31, was pulled from the water north of the famous Morro Rock around 10:45 a.m., Morro Bay police said on Twitter. He was not responsive after being brought to land.

The surfer’s identity was not immediately released and officials have ordered people to stay out of the water for 24 hours.

‘He was pulled from the water suffering from an apparent shark attack,’ police said. 

Morro Bay Harbor Director Eric Endersby told The San Luis Obispo Tribune that a female surfer nearby saw him face-down and got him out of the water. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The fatal shark attack took place off of Morro Strand State Beach around 10.45a.m. on Christmas Eve, police said on Twitter. The 31-year-old victim was not responsive after being taken out of the water. Morro Bay is about 200 miles (320 kilometers) north of Los Angeles

A sign on a parking lot announces a beach closure for the day on Friday, Dec. 24, 2021, in Morro Bay, Calif. Locals and tourists will be allowed back into the water the next day

‘As we were arriving, there was a female surfer in the water that was assisting the victim that apparently saw him a little distance away from where she was, facedown in the water,’ Endersby said.

‘About that time, we arrived on scene… so we took over,’ Endersby added. ‘It was an apparent shark attack victim, definitely deceased, no possibility of resuscitation.’

Endersby said the attack appears to have been recent based on the condition of the surfer’s body, who might have been killed by a great white. 

There were no apparent witnesses to the surfer’s death, but crews will still patrol the area to look for the shark. 

‘Obviously, it’s tragic and we’re all sad, especially given the time this occurred,’ Endersby told the Tribune. ‘It’s tragic this happened. We’re all sad and our condolences go out to the families.’

Morro Bay Police released a statement to the public on Twitter before confirming later that it will continue to patrol the area in to find the shark

There have been three shark attacks in California in 2021 before today’s incident. Pictured: A sign advising locals about today’s shark attack.

Morro Bay is about 200 miles (320 kilometers) north of Los Angeles.

As of Dec. 12 there have been 80 shark attack bites worldwide in 2021 (8 fatal shark attack, 6 provoked) publicly reported and verified. 

There have been 41 shark attack bite in the US in this year (26 Florida, 7 Hawaii, 3 California). One provoked and zero fatal before today’s incident.

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