Overview
- A 74-year-old man was pulled from Foster City Lagoon on Monday after sustaining small puncture wounds to his lower leg and was treated on scene by paramedics.
- Early police dispatch included the swimmer’s report that he was bitten by a shark, but Foster City Police say species attribution is pure speculation and the marks appear as small puncture wounds.
- The California Department of Fish and Wildlife collected samples from the swimmer’s injuries and his wetsuit and sent them to a laboratory for forensic analysis; the investigation is ongoing.
- Local residents suggested possible culprits such as juvenile leopard sharks or river otters, and officials note the lagoon uses barriers to limit bay marine ingress though some wildlife sightings have occurred.
- Authorities are advising vigilance for unusual marine-animal activity and say laboratory results will be the primary way to identify the animal and guide any further safety measures.