A popular two-mile stretch of beach in San Clemente, California, was closed for 24 hours on Memorial Day following a shark incident involving a surfer being bumped off his board. The closure was prompted by the shark’s aggressive behaviour as reported by the surfer to lifeguards.
A popular two-mile stretch of beach in San Clemente, California, was closed for 24 hours on Memorial Day after a shark bumped a surfer off his board around 8 p.m. on Sunday night. The incident, reported by the uninjured surfer to lifeguards, prompted the closure due to the shark’s aggressive behavior as per local safety protocols.
San Clemente Marine Safety Lt. Sean Staubenbaur confirmed the details, noting that the surfer had seen a large, dark object swimming toward him before the bump occurred. Although the waters were restricted, the sand remained open, allowing beachgoers to still enjoy other activities on the shore.
Despite the water closure, which lasted until 8 p.m. on Monday, some activities continued as planned, including a lemonade fundraiser by six-year-old Waylon Andino. His mother, Kylie Andino, commented on their intent to enjoy the holiday weekend regardless of the situation.
According to the protocol, any shark sighting of 10 feet (3 meters) or longer typically requires a temporary closure, while aggressive behavior leads to an automatic 24-hour shutdown.
