There are two types of people in this world: those that are afraid of sharks and those that aren’t. Since I grew up on the coast, I tend to fall into the latter; after all, shark attacks are so few and far between that it seems almost unreasonable to be fearful of them.

Nevertheless, every once in a while I’ll hear about a person going out for a nice swim in the ocean, only to be pulled under by one of these monstrous fish, and I’ll start to re-think my theory!

Today’s story perfectly illustrates why so many people out there are afraid to dip more than a toe in the ocean. You see, just last month an Orange County, California woman by the name of Leeanne Ericson decided to go for a dip in one of the area’s most iconic surf spots—San Onofre State Beach.

At about 6:30 that evening, the swimmer strapped on her fins and dove into the cold Pacific. Fortunately for her, a nearby surfer noticed that there was something going awry with Ericson.

The surfer managed to get her safely onto his board, but by the time he paddled her back to the beach, it became apparent that Ericson wasn’t having a routine emergency—she had been attacked by a shark.

Thomas Williams, an EMT who had seen the entire incident from the shore, told the Orange County Register that Ericson’s condition was dire. “It was definitely to the point her hamstring was gone. If she didn’t receive immediate care, it was life threatening,” the man recalls.

The resourceful would-be rescuers were able to stop the bleeding by tying a surfboard leash around the wound while they waited for Ericson to be air-lifted to a nearby trauma unit. Terrifying stuff!

Luckily, Ericson is expected to survive her injuries, but, according to her doctor, she will need to get multiple surgeries and plenty of physical therapy in order to fully recover.

 

Increased shark attacks and sightings in California

Though experts are still trying to determine the type of shark that attacked Ericson, most think that a Great White is responsible for her injuries. Within the past couple of weeks, there have been multiple sightings of these sharks in the Southern California area.

Scientists don’t know the exact reason as to why there has been this recent increase, but people like Chris Lowe, who is the director of the Shark Lab at California State University Long Beach, believes that it might have to do with last season’s El Nino bringing warmer waters to the area.

To hear even more details of Ericson’s harrowing battle with a ferocious shark, be sure to click on the video below. Let’s all send this swimmer good vibes as she makes it through that long recovery process!

What do you think of Ericson’s ordeal? Does this story make you think twice about going in the water? Have you ever encountered a shark before? Tell us all about your thoughts and experiences in the comments section below!