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.