Overview
- James Eastman, 39, was bitten while surfing near Big River Beach in Mendocino Headlands State Park around 5:15 p.m. Wednesday, suffering injuries to both legs.
- Three off-duty State Parks lifeguards helped get him to shore and provided medical care before he was transported by ambulance to Adventist Health in Fort Bragg; officials have not released his condition.
- The California Department of Fish and Wildlife is leading the investigation and has collected evidence, including DNA samples, from the scene.
- California State Parks posted warning signs and temporarily closed nearby beaches for 48 hours in accordance with standard protocol.
- From his hospital bed, Eastman described striking the shark’s nose to break free, as officials noted that shark-human interactions in California remain rare despite recent attention and past incidents.