A community is in mourning after a surfer died in a shark attack two miles south of Santa Cruz on Saturday.
The attack happened around 1:30 p.m. at Sand Dollar Beach.
The victim has been identified as 26-year-old Ben Kelly, a surf board shaper in
Santa Cruz.
Flowers are strewn along Sand Dollar Beach in remembrance of
Kelly, as well as a piece of surfboard left near the growing memorial.
As a result of the attack, all beaches in the area one mile north and one mile south of where the attack took place will remain closed until May 14. Kelly was attacked within 100 yards of shore.
Paramedics tried to resuscitate him, but he died on the
beach.
Rangers say shark attacks are extremely rare. The last known
deadly attack in California was in 2012 in Santa Barbara.
However, sharks are known to be in the area where the attack
occurred. One marine biologist said she saw a shark breach not far from the
shore Sunday.
Source: NBC Bay Area