Gnarly story out of Norther California where 19 year old Cal Poly student, Nick Wapner, had a run in with a great white while surfing with friends at Montaña de Oro State Park. The Tribune reports the great white came up from under him as he paddled into the lineup:
“It all happened quickly, but I turned and saw that it had one of my legs in its mouth.”
Nick estimates the shark was 15 feet long with an 18-inch dorsal fin. He managed to kick the shark hard in the head and free himself but not before its teeth penatrated his wetsuit and skin:
“I think between the fiberglass board and me, it realized pretty quickly it wasn’t a seal. Fiberglass isn’t too tasty, I don’t think. For the shark, it was probably just a play tap really, but for me it was a major ordeal.”
Wapner and his crew all have lifeguard training and quickly determined no major arteries were damaged once back onshore. He never lost consciousness on his way to Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center in San Luis Obispo where he received 50 stitches and was discharged in the afternoon. Thank goodness fiberglass isn’t too tasty. Heal up bud.
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