‘Truly terrifying’ shark attack injures surfer in Southern California

A shark attacked a 37-year-old man surfing near the Channel Islands off Santa Barbara in Southern California on Saturday afternoon, KTLA reports.

The shark, whose species was not known, bit the man in the leg, but a companion applied a tourniquet and a nearby boat picked him up, the Los Angeles Daily News reported.

“This is the best possible outcome to a truly terrifying situation,” said Lt. Benjamin McIntyre-Coble, command duty officer for Coast Guard Sector Los Angeles Long Beach, KNBC reported.

A Coast Guard helicopter airlifted the injured surfer from the boat to a Santa Barbara hospital, the Coast Guard reported on Twitter.

He was reported to be in stable condition, KTLA reported.

“We are all happy that he will be able to be with his family in time for the holidays,” McIntyre-Coble said, according to the Los Angeles Daily News.

The attack took place about 3:15 p.m. near Santa Rosa Island, KNBC reported.

This story was originally published December 22, 2019 at 6:46 AM with the headline "‘Truly terrifying’ shark attack injures surfer in Southern California."