What is strange is the frequency of attacks south of Point Sur (Monterey/Carmel area) is increasing. The "normal" area for White Shark attacks has been the "Blood Triangle" between Point Arena to the north, Farallon Islands to the west and Point Sur to the south.

I have search the Santa Cruz beaches since the mid '60s and the closest I have come to an attack is seeing a board with teeth marks on it on top of a car.

There has also been a recent absence of Sea Lions from around the Bay Area and maybe the local White Shark population is moving south in search of its "favorite" food.

Yes, when I went with my family a year or two ago to San Francisco/Monterey, there were no seals to be found! Usually there would be hundreds of them sunbathing, but to see none at all. Strangest thing.

Don't forget about the Tri-Athlete who was killed by a Great White off Solana Beach down San Diego way a couple of years ago. that's pretty far south.

What is strange is the frequency of attacks south of Point Sur (Monterey/Carmel area) is increasing.

It's because there are more people in the water. 30 years ago when I started surfing you might see 3 or 4 surfers if you were lucky at a surf break point. Today, you can see couple dozen at times. Read the other day that the DOT was concerned yet perplexed that over the two last decades people were more likely to be involved in a fatal accident. Really!!! Could it be that more cars on the road is the culprit, LMAO!

I hear that argument all the time, but if you ask me I think it is quite pretentious to think that we could depleat a population of fish by over fishing in a body of water that spans 75% of of our earth....Just because our fisherman cant find them or we dont see them where we believe we should does not mean they are not there or that they are being overfished, I think they just relocate. We know less about the ocean than the surface of the moon, we have only explored and have acess too 1% of that which we know, there is whole world within our world we have no clue about.Overfishing argument is BS for uneducated hippies. Kind of like pollution, to think that we could detrimentally affect an earth that has spanned billions of years with apporoximatley 100 years of fossil fuel usage is very funny to me. Just a way for the news and everything else to scare you.

This has NOTHING to do with "global warming". The globe has been warming for 10,000 years straight. Al Gore and his pals invented a terminology that a lot of human sheep are following blindly. I know I am going to get ripped on, and apart, by greeners, but before you start on me, ask yourself this question....if "global warming" is such a concern for all, why does Al Gore live in the house he lives in?

I mean really think about it. No knee-jerk answers. He lives in a "green" mansion. MANSION. If he is so concerned about his carbon footprint, why does he live in such extravagance? Surely a smaller "green" home would be much more beneficial to our delicate environment. Yet he lives lavishly at the expense of the planet. But you should listen to him and his colleagues and do what they say.

My condolences to the victim's friends and family. We have had a few shark incidents this summer in northeast FL, but I don't believe any were fatal. These encounters happen very quickly. The victim doesn't always have the opportunity to respond. Very sorry to read about it, but it won't keep me from the ocean that I love. Life is full of risks. Aloha.

From below, he probably looked like a big seal by lying on the board. What a shame.

Exactly what I was saying with the pollution thing Latexlatina, just a way for someone somewhere to make money, think about things logically and you start to question these things that are held to be "true".

Spending 10 years in San Diego, I have seen many, many Harbor seals in La Jolla. The city built a beach for children spending tons of money to build a break wall so the water gently laps up on the shore behind the wall, perfect for the kids... only thing is the seals love it too. And all the Tree Huggers in La Jolla don't want the city to chase off those "cute little seals" The problem is there have been more and more great white sightings over the years because, as you said, the sharks go where the food is. That's why I quit body surfing.

I bet there would be less attacks if people didn't go in the water during shark feeding time, which is in the morning and evening, mostly. What time did they say the guy went in the water?

The problem with the Dam at Children's Pool is there were vents in the bottom of the bridge to let the water come in and fill up the beach to make it more of a "pool" but when the water would go out it would create a suction and two children died. When they closed the vents the water went out and left a beach where the seals have made their home. There are plenty of beaches for children in La Jolla and San Diego. Leaving one beach for the seals doesn't seem like too much to ask.

I was referencing Mr. Scott...not RumbleNut

Phantombeast, first of all, Red Lobster serves nothing that great whites eat. Their prefered food is sea lions and seals. Usually, attacks on people by whites are mistaken identity, the sharik thought they were a seal.

As for global warming causing so many problems, BS! The earth has been going in and out of warming and cooling cycles since it's birth. The earth used to be much warmer than it is right now. They have found palm trees in Antarctica and the midwest was a tropical swamp!. Obviously, mankind did not kill off the dinosaurs, but the eath cooled and reptiles could not survive in that cold. The CO2 issues are also bogus. What do you think plants and trees use? CO2, and through photosynthises, they create more oxygen. So more CO2 would be beneficial to plants and trees. The weather has nothing to do with global warming and vice versa. What affects it most are ocean currents and undersea volcanos affect them. One volcano puts out more green house gasses than all of mankind does in one year, and think of how many volcanos have been erupting.

That water is cold at all times of the year. One can only swim in it while wearing a wet suit. There is a theory that swimmers resemble seals and the sharks can't tell the difference.

No one likes to read about these things but a little common sense might go a long way. If you're going to dress like a seal don't be too surprised if a shark treats you like one.

That said, I am so sorry for the family of this guy and for him too.

What are they working to indentify? Um its a White Shark! There is no other Pacific cold water shark that can deliver that type of attack. No Bull Sharks or Tiger sharks off Central Cal last time I checked. A blue shark cant do this or atleast hasnt..

Most people don't realize how quickly you can bleed to death. I wish he had been with someone knowledgeable about using his boogie board or surfboard leash for tying a tourniquet. I actually have this conversation with my fellow surfers whenever I go surfing by demonstrating how to do it in the event of such a calamity. However, you must know when a tourniquet is proper to use, because by cutting off the circulation to an appendage, you can do damage that might be irreversible. Massive shark bites usually indicate a good time for use of a tourniquet.

generally, if the water is warmer then there is less sharks....it does happen but there is less shark attacks on the east coast where the water is warmer....

MMM.Lets take all the prisoners on death row to the Pacific and save some tax dollars....

Unless they can figure out how to get in my shower, I'm not worried about anything. When I go into the water, I have my glasses on. That tells you how far I'm going. Since "Jaws", no ocean for me and that won't change soon.

I live in Lompoc, and was at Jalama beach, a few miles south of Surf, last weekend. My kids were in the water, swimming without wet suits, because the water IS warm enough to swim in. There are shark attacks, because there are sharks. Hungry sharks. They mistake people for sea lions or elephant seals. They aren't on the hunt for people. An actual PERSON is dead, could we PLEASE have some respect. He has a family, and they are mourning the loss of their son/brother/nephew/friend in this tragic accident. He also had a friend who saw the whole thing. Imagine his pain...

It's a times like this that I am huge a fan of making "Shark Fin Soup" an every day commodity...
I fvcking hate Sharks that attack people. They ruin the beach experience.

RIP to the deceased soul. What a shame... Kill ALL sharks.

So sick of people trying to justify this... Sharks are nothing but huge fish. They have no soul or feeling. a human was killed... don;t you get it? Get your mind out of your derriere and realize the value of human life. Sharks kill without any discretion or second thought... I love the sea and almost all fish in it, but I hate sharks because of these types of things. I understand their value to the ocean ecosystem, but we eradicated wolves for the same reason. And wthere has never been a documented case of a healthy wolf killing a human. Google it.

People are constantly killing without discretion. Should we just go ahead and eradicate them as well? People like you make me sick. I don't think you fully understand their value to the ecosystem or you wouldn't say such a stupid thing. Look up how many shark attacks there are on an annual basis and compare it to the number of people who actually go swimming in the ocean each day. The percentage of attacks is beyond minimal. This was an unfortunate accident, but again people can also kill people because of unfortunate accidents. So I guess we should make sure that they get "eradicated" as well. You disgust me.

I don't know what world you live in but humans kill without discretion or second thought. Humans life's are not above animals, if you feel that way I sure hope your a vegan because those animals are what give you life. You act like what that shark did was wrong. He did what he was made to do. What do you have to say for yourself. You should now better.

hmm, actually we are not animals, track your family tree and find a chimp yet?

Go here for more background:

http://www.sharkresearchcommittee.com/unprovoked_diver.htm

I remember the Pamperin attack (last item in above URL) because I was a frequent diver in that same area.

You are more likely to get hit and killed by a truck going to the beach than getting attacked by a shark. This is a fact. So, everyone stay home and let the seals and sharks alone.

That sucks. Sad to hear. Who knows what he may have been able to accomplish if not for that damn shark. However the ocean is their domain not mans.

My husband is stationed at Vandenberg AFB and I know the beach where this happened very well. I am very saddened by this incident. I have two children who are close to this young mans age and I can only imagine how his parents and friends are feeling right now. I hope that the friend who pulled him to shore gets some help for PTSD. He will need it.

As a former medic, I have been first hand witness to shark attack. A few years ago a surfer was flown to the hospital I worked at and he had been bitten by a shark. His entire back was filleted open all the way down to his pelvis. He lived becasue of the quick actions of all those who were part of his care team starting with the friends who pulled him from the surf.

I am again reminded of why I do not swim in water where I can't see below me!

Alan you are so right, but then again a truck does not eat you alive.

I am told there are no more in number shark attacks than in the past. I knew someone who got his last day with a shark in Hawaii. Gone.

Caution for people who surf the ocean or just "walk on white water waves". No one can mess with Mother Nature.

It is tragic this young man Ransom had this experience. It won't deter others from the thought they are invincible. Wonder if there was a Warning of Sharks in that area of the beach.

If we kill off all the Sharks, the food chain in the Ocean would be disrupted.

Being that I grew up in Lompoc many years ago... Surf Beach was not a swimming beach. No one from the area ever went out in the water at Surf Beach. It has one of the worst undertows on the Central Coast. There used to be signs that stated "no swimming". Have they taken those down?

On a side note, closing the beach is unnecessary, nothing can harm anyone "on the beach"...

A simple sign stating that it is off limits to swim because of Shark Attack, should do just fine.

shift-lock, you are incorrect. Wolves attacked & killed a woman in Alaska in March this year and killed someone else in 2005. I took your advice and googled it.

I've wondered why the U.S. doesn't "mesh" their beaches like they do down under?

@ Latexlatina: True this has nothing to do with global warming. However, concerning Al Gore's house: he lives in the house he deserves. Sure he could live in a cardboard box near Giaradelli Square in Frisco, but he's earned the house in which he lives. And if you believe climate change is a hoax, then why is the Arctic Sea ice at the lowest levels in recorded history? Oh, yeah, must be sunspots. That's what the Teabaggers are saying. They heard it on Fox, so it must be true.

Absolutely comical to blame the shark! White Sharks hunt for seals on the California Coast and Boogie Boarders look like seals from underneath. Sharks do not kill, they eat, killing is a byproduct of feeding.

Every year we understand more about Great Whites and it would be an absolute shame to kill this animal who's only crime is being born.

Meanwhile Asian countries are rapping our seas indiscriminately killing anything that they can catch in a net. Morons who think these resources are unending need to stop watching FOX NEWS and smarten up!

It doesn't make you a tree hugger or liberal to feel a responsibility to this planet and its creatures. It makes a you a human being and these days we seem to be running in short supply!

@HankE, according to Mr. Gore, no one deserves to live in that house. Its too big and too inefficient. Yet there he is, living the life he tells his sheep not too. Global Warming is the new christianity. One guy telling the masses how to live, but not doing it how he tells others to. Pretty standard practice for liberals.

And just for the record, I'm not a Tea Partyer. I hunt, fish, bbq and drink beer. Sports are a way of life and I do not believe in a god. Of any kind. I vote for the least stupid, not for a party. I use my own mind to make my own decisions, I don't leave that up to someone else to do for me. Its called free will. Christians talk about it all the time, yet none can do it. They follow a book.

latexlatina, So glad to hear you are enjoying the mind GOD gave you, and making your own decisions, and enjoying the world GOD created for your sports and pleasure too! you are a joke, and a sad one at that! people like you must deep down be so confused and miserable. What a shame to use your free will as such. May we followers of the BOOK keep you in our Prayers.

Q: What do you call a libertarian/independent that always votes republican?

A: A republican.

Perhaps. But undoubtedly there would be other sharks swimming the waters instead.

RAR, you are absolutley right!

Thanks captain obvious! If there was less gravity we could fly too and if I had gills I could breathe underwater!!! What a world that would be.

thats not always true..

The Great Whites have returned to the warm waters of Hawaii.

You're more than welcome to the warm-water sharks of Florida, namely the Bull shark. It's 2nd or 3rd on the list of man-eaters & is also blamed for numerous freshwater attacks as well. No body of water is safe here in Florida.

My condolences to the family of the boy killed in the attack.

Al Gore could probably answer a lot of these questions.

It was not cartel related...unless the shark was working for the mexican drug lords...

huh?

Wow.

Seems like only the brightest and the best on the Vine this Friday night...

That was called sarcasm... Say it with me... SAR-KAS-UM...

No. The only thing most of us who have a brain in California (and that includes most surfers) are afraid of is Carly and Meg. I don't think either of them has been to a beach since their teens.

Jerry Brown is Jaws!

One victim of any kind of attack is not enough to make Californians paranoid. Call it madness or arrogance - take your pick.

Jerry Brown is MUCH more frightening then either Meg or Carly, or THE SHARK. Seeing as I live in Lompoc, 8 miles from the shark attack, we all know not to swim at Surf Beach. It has dangerous rip tides. I suggest that if you do not want to become shark food, you don't put on a wetsuit and hop on a boogie board. You look JUST like a seal....

If Californians are paranoid, it won't be because of the sharks.

Yeah, dangerous riptides. I think that's roughly where the ocean currents collide (one from the north and one from the south).

Jan: LOMPOC! Great place, good memories. And I'm hoping a bunch of little "Captain Quints" aren't going to go hunting for jaws.

Exactly, sharks can't tell the difference between us and seals.

Actually, White Sharks can tell the difference. Once they bite into a surfer they move on. That is why the surfer who died "only" lost a leg.

Now, in Hawai'i, the Tiger Shark doesn't give a damn and just eats everything it bites: surfers, gas cans, turtle, old tires........

A Whhhaaat?

Jeepster - GOOD one. I remember that line too.....Da Dum.....Da Dum.....Da Dum..Da Dum..

Since when do sharks see? Maybe surfers should wear hot pink wet suits so that they know that it's a surfer raising money for breast cancer rather than a elephant seal or a human trying to look like an elephant seal. Duh?

Actually there have been studies about what color incites sharks most. I believe the tests they ran came up with blue (as opposed to red or yellow). It was a while back, not sure how much has been done on it since.

MsKat - Actually sharks are attracted to lighter colors. White, silver or yellow as opposed to red blue black or dull gray. That is the reason the yellow life-jacket color is often called yumyum-yellow by some.

Source : One of the free video podcasts under the collection "shark week" under discovery channel on itunes.

yum yum yellow, Mmmmm!

This Sounds like a Kimber..........

the closest elephant seal preserve is about 80 MILES AWAY!! i live in the town right next to Surf Beach so i would know this!! get your facts straight.

A bull shark once sized up Rush Limbaugh but decided he was far too unappetizing, even if he did look remotely like an elephant seal.

The shark then caught a contact high from the oxys, passed out and drowned...

aww, you're hurting my feelings. NOT! get lost troll.

Frank, why so bitter towards women? Can't get any?

Frank...you're new to Newsvine. And I can tell you right now that you're also going to be very gone from Newsvine once the mods see that comment. Buh-bye.

Lady Arndt - you started it with the crayon comment - totally unnecessary... Always someone who has to start putting others down on this board. Sad.

Frank, you're a real piece of work. My condolences to your family and friends.

JFF 1968 - totally uncalled for. So many angry, threatening people - it's easy when you don't have to look someone in the eyes I guess. For the record, I wasn't defending the guy (Frank) - just saying Lady Arndt DID start it with her smart ass (and unneccessary comment). You are just SAD.....

Buh-bye. LOL. Im havinga crap day at work and for some reason this strikes me as very funny, yes Ive heard it before. Buh-Bye. lol

I don't see ladyarndt's supposed "smart ass" comment. ??

When you're a Shark you're a Shark all the way!

... from your first surferette till your last dying day.

life is so right in the Pacific Ocean if you're a shark - refrain - [bring up lights on guys in tight pants dancing]

Ah Carrie it is our turf. Like all animals, our turf is where we are equipped to be. Mankind, like a few other animals, is equipped to be where his tool making abilities allow him to survive. Given our nature, and our environment, it is perfectly natural for us to be there. And by the way Carrie, the shark is in our food chain.

We came, we saw, we conquered, we destroyed everything in our path, we are at the top of the food chain...we...are now the most unnecessary and useless creatures in existance. The bully mentality always cancels itself out.

Well your correct about the ocean and us humans being in there turf although are we really in there food chain. OK, im not saying were not in any food chain although us being in there food-chain is hard for me to believe, sharks have a diet of fish, plankton and large seals (not humans). Although a human swimming often looks like an injured seal, but for a shark that's an easy meal. A shark will most likely not eat a human and only take a testing bite for reference of what it is and will not continue to eat the person in 99.9% of the time. Sharks are very smart, much smarter than you may think and they get just like you and me so don't judge every shark on a single sharks mistake.

Indeed... The bully mentality does always cancel itself out... Untill you get eaten by a Shark, attacked by a Cougar, mauled by a Bear or trampled by an Elephant.

In the end their just animals people they kill to survive. The EXACT same thing we do.

I have to agree with cricket. We are the most resourceful creatures around. Sharks are only around now because WE allow them to be. We could drive almost any species to extinction if we so chose. So all the comments about it's the boys fault because he was in the sharks domain, and the shark is a shark is a little cold. This 19yr old lost his life. Have a heart, and not for the shark.

You get what you get??? What if this was a family member or friend of yours? Please be more sympathetic. Someone lost their life today. Yes, it's always somewhat dangerous when swimming in the ocean, but still - that was very uncalled for.

Viruses are in the air and we humans are invading their living space. What a bunch of nonsensical fuzzy animal love. We are top predator on this planet and we do not have to perish just because another creature inhabits an area.

Wow blondie69. How compassionate. While you may be right, I'm sure that the kid's parents wont be too comforted by that fact when they turn out the light tonight. Someone is dead, people's hearts are broken. You seem like a real sweet person with your cold "you get what you get".

To the family and friends of the victim, I'm sorry for your loss.

And we don't NEED to go into the water, either.

Ouch man. Have some respect for the dead. So we are never supposed to jump in the water? This is a tragic incident. Yes, sharks do belong in the water, but that doesn't mean that every human that jumps in should expect something like this. Of course there is some risk but lets not dumb it down that much.

So if my kid walks outside and gets killed by a bird or a snake does that mean he deserved it because he was in their habitat. Very cold hearted blondie!!!!!

Yes we can tell your blond! Condolances to the friends and family of this guy. I scuba dive to be able to relate to the fish and they are very friendly to humans. So your saying the next time I or any of my other fellow scuba friends are down visiting with them we should be attacked?

blondie,

In your defense, we are not at the wake here. We are simply voicing our thoughts and opinions about an event that happened on the California Coast. If I remember correctly, this is exactly the forum for that!

I'm sorry guys but how is blondie dumbing this down, if you swim in any large body of water you take risks. Tough break for the family but it's not like he was gunned down walking to the corner store. He put himself at risk and this time around he lost. It is the sharks home and the shark will get around better than anybody surfing the waves.

Why is it that when someone posts something and basically tells it like it is they are hammered for not being compassionate? The family should be upset that he put himself at risk. We aren't bulletproof but tend to think we are.

There was a comment earlier about how humans are the greatest predators well I don't think we would survive to well if we were dropped in a jungle with only our wits to get by. Other species kill for survival and we should respect that.

I'm not some tree hugging animal lover but I'm also not Frank. Give a person a break for calling it like they see it as long as they aren't being a Frank about it.

Tough break for the family? That's all you can muster? I won't call you a Frank but I will call you a Wiener. That was someones son, no matter how they died. My condolences to the family. I lost a brother years ago because he took the risk to live a little and I miss him very much. I feel your pain.

You get what you get.

Why is it that when someone posts something and basically tells it like it is they are hammered for not being compassionate?

Ah, so when someone dies during a war...in a country that's not their own, you just shrug and respond..."Well, that's the nature of war. No sympathy necessary...they got what they got." @!$%# 'em!

When someone dies in a car accident...is saying that "Cars are dangerous...and they're NOT a natural human habitat...so, that's just what happens"...an example of telling it like it is?

Is telling a parent who just lost a child in an accident, "It's your fault...you shouldn't have let little Johnny play near the street...it's dangerous"...telling it like it is? Or is it the @!$%# thing to do?

If/when a friend, family member or co-worker is gunned down in broad daylight...do you tell their relatives..."Well, he was black...and everybody knows that black people in America have shorter life-spans...and are far more likely to die in a violent crime." Is that, "telling it like it is"...about someone getting what they had coming to them?

What a load of absolute horse @!$%#!

I think what's being pointed out is that S#$% happens, and if you're going to put yourself in precarious places where stuff like this can happen, well then it might.. sit by the pool, you're gonna get wet.. If you're going extreme, expect extreme consequences. To me, surfing in great white populated waters in October is pretty extreme. Going to a war zone and expecting to get out unscathed is preposterous. Would you go into the deep woods and expect to have a nice picnic with a Grizzly? Stupid is as stupid does.. yes we feel for the parents and friends but they have to know there's danger in surfing with or without sharks..

I feel awful for this guy and family. I can't even imagine if my kids.......... That said, as a surfer and old commercial fisherman who has spent a lot of years on and around the ocean, people must understand that when you leave your boat or land and enter the ocean, you instantly go from the top of the food chain to somewhere near the bottom. From my fishing days, I can testify that most people don't realize that the sea is filled with animals that can and will eat you given the chance. There's a lot more than just sharks.

15000 years ago they didn't tell the parents well your kid was just killed by a saber tooth cat - he got what he deserved. Were they wrong? At least that's what I've gotten out of looking at cave paintings.

I have to say that your point of view is not only harsh but very rude and unfounded. This is a very sad thing that happen to someone that is so young. Yes we all take risks and many people enjoy the ocean. Im not one of them but still respect what other people like to do.

When we have a bear that gets the taste of blood and kills people we dont say poor bear we hunt it and make sure it does not cause anymore harm. May be its time to act and eliminate the problem meaning the shark. We are the top of the food chain and sometime we need to take action to ensure that.

@John-254When we have a bear that gets the taste of blood and kills people we dont say poor bear we hunt it and make sure it does not cause anymore harm. May be its time to act and eliminate the problem meaning the shark. We are the top of the food chain and sometime we need to take action to ensure that.

That is the most retarded thing i've seen or heard of in my life how in the H@&% would you propose someone do that? Oh I know throw a bucket of chum in the water and kill everything that shows up. Use your head before you type ignorant comments like that.

Did the poster change their name from Blondie to 1Kirby? Anyway i can't some people are saying that your taking a risk when you go swimming at a public beach. It's not like the guy was sky diving or mountain climbing. Such cold hearted people on here. Sharks only live in the ocean because we allow it. Now that's the harsh truth. The fact is, if we wanted to, humans could drive the shark population into extinction.

Yes, Pat, I remember that incident. The kayaks were all they ever found of those two people. The fact is, we have many species of sharks off the California coast. I'm surprised we don't have more shark attacks. I have shark fished right outside of Long Beach harbor and there are plenty of blue sharks there. I watched a 10 foot hammerhead swim alongside the Balboa pier in Newport Beach several years ago. People were actually getting in the water to get a better view of the shark. Carelessness is not in short supply. It's too bad about the young man killed today, but the fact is we share the water with predators and occasionally these events will happen.

Well then, we're gonna need a bigger boat.

Avoid any boat named Orca. *shifty eyes*

That poor guy. He probably saw it after it came down with him in its mouth, then when the shark hit the water that's when his leg came off. That shark had to of hit him at a high rate of speed, it must be a tad deep there for that shark to get up enough speed. It takes allot to bite off a leg unless it was by his hip and bit through the joint. Still what a crappy way to go from fun to what the #@#@ is happening.

Well John, he was on a body board, which means his legs and arms were hanging out over the sides. We all know that sharks sometimes attack by charging from below but it's not always the case. I hope none of the family members read your graphic novel. Geeze! When will someone invent a gene pool thinner? My condolences and appologies to the family.

Try to stay on topic here....we're talking about sharks, not carp.

Interesting, the cabinet went from Bushs' Warhawks to carp. Bottom feeders scare me!!

amen to that

Thank you Becky, a little perspective and compasion.

Becky, it's just not worth it. No amount of grousing about the content of the commentary, or the character of the people who post valueless, inflammatory, off-topic comments, is going to make a bit of difference. Some kids just like to barf all over the threads, because they can. They love getting a rise out of us. They get banned, then come back at us under another login. Just read right past them. But do continue to report their comments using the "!" button, and feel free to hit "Ignore This Author" if you're fed up with anyone in particular. It'll save you the aggravation of having to filter through their crap.

Did you know that thounds of animal die everyday, and not necesarily for nutrition purposes? An animal life is less important than a human life?? We are sorry he died, but everybody is right here, he just was in the wrong place at the wrong time!!!

Well said Margarita! We commit sinful tragedies to animals EVERY DAY in the multitudes. But people want to get on their high horse and judge people for not thinking exactly like they do. Get over yourself. People die. It's part of life.

Of course my sympathies are with the grieving, but let's get some perspective.

Please don't spout your b.s. PETA propaganda in the immediate aftermath of the death of another human being. I love animals, in fact, I have 5 rescue cats at home right now. But do not think that you can draw any comparison between the loss of this human and the death of a dog, pig, cow, turkey, whatever, regardless of the manner and still retain any sense of credibility. Humans matter more, period.

If you've been so mistreated that you can't see that then perhaps you are less-than-human?!

That was completely uncalled for WADE!!!

Wow jr-70whatever, congrats on your kitties. I disagree with you. We won't make it on this planet without animals. Wunna go swimmin in California?

To Margarita: If you had to choose between saving a sharks life and a humans life, which would you pick? Now tell us why you picked a humans life over an animals. That would be the difference. It's an animal.

Well RumbleNut, while I'm not Margarita I had to weigh in...

It would depend on the person. If it was a child molester (or anyone similarly heinous) and a rat, I'd save the rat! everyday and twice on sunday.

wishfulthinking, I would have to agree with that... but this wasn't one of them..My deepest sympathy to the family and friends of this young boy..

He can't til you take the plunge. I dare ya!

Yeah it's easy to talk big when you're on dry land...

I would like to see him try it with you too!

Big liar! You didn't hate saying that. Hate to say it, but you left out the part where you would use your Shark Style Kung Fu on it. Gosh, I hated saying that but it's true.

So would I. I guess you would show him a thing or two, but briefly.

Felt the same way Copley, but competing for food in the wild has made these animals such better athletes. Competing in their environment is a no contest. This would be one reason man used his mind and developed weapons.

K. Copley:

This poor guy that died probable never saw it until it was too late...

and neither would you.

My condolences to the family and friends for their loss.

LOL. I thought I was the only one who caught that. WTF??

I think it might be wise to reconsider my choices of sports and select one that does not involve the possibility of being eaten by anything

You may need to limit your sport(ing)choices to board games. The odds of needing emergency room care from, say a football injury, and contracting Necrotizing Fasciitis (flesh eating bacteria) are substantially greater than getting eaten by a shark: at least by California Great White shark. (I do hear those Bull Sharks in Florida can be a bit nasty, though.)

As a Floridian I can tell you Bull sharks will eat ANYTHING and everything if they could. Don't know what kind took this persons life, but probably a Great White mistaking it for a seal. Water is murly and it sees a black outline and boom it takes a bite. Very sad indeed. Those bloggers talking politics on this story, you people have serious issues man, and really need to let it go.

Karley...That would be pricey. The article said it was the first time at this beach. We have had (and will have) many more deaths along the Rio Grande River by smugglers that we can't seem to block. Good luck getting anybody to pony up for a net to stretch along the Calif. coast. LOL

So true... so true. I much rather have a fractured bone than a swallowed bone with everything attached to it. But then again, who am I to prevent someone from taking those kinds of risks if they love doing that stuff so much. This is nothing more than unfortunate.. To the family of the victim: stay positive and please don't go looking for the shark for revenge. I'm sure the shark didn't have anything personal against him. It just acted out of natural instinct. PEACE

P-Cola Vet, I'm also a Floridian and you are correct about bull sharks. I remember poor little Jesse Arbogast's attack in Pensacola very well and until 9/11 occurred, his plight was on the news daily. His uncle was amazing during the shark attack. I couldn't even imagine.

My condolences and Prayers to the family and friends of the man killed in this horrific attack.

Worse-along the rio, we've had border Patrol intercepting more heavy weapons than at any other time, showing that indeed, our border is NOT more secure than any other time in history.

over 200 RPG's in 1 month sends a Bad Signal to those of us responsible to defend the US.

But play it as a political thing so it can be ignored, and meanwhile we'll watch and be ready to respond-after they get built up here and do something because we weren't allowed to stop them from Getting here in the 1st place. "poor, poor illegals" my Axx!

They do have barrier nets in some areas of Austria, but other fish get caught in them and die.

They also enclose a far smaller area, not enough to surf in in most cases.

@ Petunia

"They do have barrier nets in some areas of Austria, but other fish get caught in them and die."

Austria is landlocked.

Other fish also get caught IN THE SHARKS and die...

Jerry Da Baracuda Brown