A Friend Says the Person Who Was Attacked by a Shark Punched It in the Face Before He Was Saved

A man was swimming at a busy California beach on Sunday when he was bitten by a shark several times. He punched the shark in the nose before other swimmers quickly rescued him, according to an eyewitness.

Around 9 a.m., the 46-year-old guy was taken to Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla with bites on his left hand, left arm, and bottom. Sunday, the city of Del Mar, which is north of San Diego, said in a record.

The statement said the injuries were bad but not life-threatening. After the attack, almost the whole stretch of beach was closed.

This person was a part of a group of experienced ocean swimmers who train once a week. A member of the group named Jenna Veal was right behind the man in the water during the attack. On Monday, she told NBC’s “TODAY” show that she heard him scream for help.

“He hit it in the face.” “He hit it in the face,” she said. “I know he had a shark’s tooth wound on his hand.”

The swimmers took the man back to shore fast, and a doctor from the emergency room stopped to help.

“There is a massive all-hands-on-deck movement of support today,” Veal told us. She said the man stayed awake the whole time and is expected to be fine.

As Veal shared pictures of the guy, he was still wearing his swimming cap and was lying on a stretcher while paramedics took care of him. Concerned swimmers watched on.

“Today” spoke to another witness who said, “When we saw the guy, like, swim back was really shocking.”

The city’s lifeguard chief, Jon Edelbrock, told “TODAY” that one of the divers had a tourniquet on, but it’s not clear if it was used.

Many experienced local beachgoers were shocked when beaches within a mile were closed because of the attack. “I have never seen a shark sign or have known of an incident to occur right here,” someone said “TODAY.”

The chance of getting bitten by a shark for no reason is still very low around the world.

The safest way for divers to lower their risk is to always stay with other people. Be extra careful near sandbars and steep drops, and don’t go into the water at night or in the darkness.

Shark strikes that aren’t provoked are rare: The International Shark Attack File at the Florida Museum of Natural History says there were only 36 in the U.S. last year, with two fatalities in California.