Fatal Shark Attack in San Diego 25/4/08

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   There was a fatal shark attack this morning in Solana Beach in
North County San Diego between the surf breaks Tabletops and Pillbox
near Fletcher Cove. The lifeguards received the 911 call 20 minutes after the 7am attack. 

Earliest reports say the victim was an athletic 66 year old male swimmer. At
the time of the attack he was with a group of about 10 other swimmers
training for a triathlon between 100 and 150 yards out to sea. In an
attempt to save the victim, one of the group's members swam him in to
the beach where he died.

According to Scott Bass, who was on a
long distance paddle nearby at the time of the attack, "It was a nice
morning, the weather was warm, and there was just a little bit of a red
tide type of feel to the water. The waves were fun, but things felt a
little off."

"Then, while I was on my way back home during the
paddle, helicopters came crawling out of nowhere screaming over the
ocean, 'There has been a fatal shark attack in the area! Exit the
ocean! There has been a fatal shark attack in the area. Exit the
ocean!'"

While details of the attack have yet to be verified,
most believe the shark to have been a Great White. According to
sources, the victim lost a leg and has a twenty two inch bite mark on
his body. As a preventative measure, beaches have been cleared.

"It's pretty spooky," says Bass. "The entire coast of San Diego from Del Mar to Encinitas is empty right now. It's surreal."