A California man who was in the water at Lovers Point Beach in Pacific Grove was rescued by good Samaritans after he was attacked by a shark on Wednesday, police said.
“The adult male swimmer sustained significant injuries from the shark bite and was transported to Natividad Hospital by [American Medical Rescue],” said Pacific Grove Police Department Chief Cathy Madalone in a statement on Wednesday.
The beach will be closed until Saturday under State Parks protocol, police said.
Pacific Grove Police, the Monterey Fire Department, American Medical Response, and State Parks responded to the incident which occurred at around 10:35 a.m. on Wednesday.
A drone was launched to search for the shark out of “an abundance of caution” by the Monterey and Seaside fire departments, but Madalone said there were so far no additional sightings.
The police chief thanked the good Samaritans who “took immediate action and personal risk” to help the swimmer at Lovers Point Beach.
The department also thanked the U.S. Coast Guard and the Department of Fish and Wildlife.
“We want to express our gratitude and appreciation to the good Samaritans that took immediate action and personal risk to assist the swimmer,” Madalone said.
Video Shows Rescue
Jill Hannley identified the swimmer as her friend, 60-year-old retired professor Stephen Bruemmer, in an interview with local Fox affiliate KION.Hannley relayed information on Bruemmer’s condition, saying that he was lucky but was in for a long recovery.
The Epoch Times has not independently verified the identity of the swimmer.
“It was a very large shark. Luckily none of his blood vessels were intruded upon but his femur was broke [sic] and they were able to fix it,” she said, recalling the information she says she received in a text message.
“He’s not going to lose any limbs. He’s going to survive. It’s just going to be a long, long recovery.”
The second video shows an individual swimming atop a paddle board, while towing a second paddle board on which is another individual lying down. Behind the towed paddle board there appears to be a third individual kicking from the rear.
They swim to shore where three more individuals meet them and help bring Bruemmer ashore.
