Kayakers Escape Shark Attacks off Vandenberg

Two separate, nonfatal great white shark attacks on kayakers occurred an hour apart on Friday, October 3, near Vandenberg Air Force Base, reports the Shark Research Committee, a nonprofit scientific research organization.

The first attack occurred around noon when a white shark “dumped” a kayaker into the ocean; he was rescued and brought to shore. A second attack occurred about an hour later, when a white shark an estimated 18-20 feet in length attacked a kayaker from below, ejecting the kayaker 10 feet in the air and leaving bite marks on the underside of his kayak; he was also rescued and transported to shore. No direct bites on either of the men were reported in the incidents.

The attacks occurred less than 24 hours after a nonfatal shark attack on a Vandenberg employee on Thursday, October 2, prompted the temporary shut down of Surf, Wall, and Minuteman beaches until Sunday, October 5. The beaches remain open, according to Vandenberg officials.