A surfer in California was killed in a shark attack off the coast of Santa Barbara on Tuesday.
Francisco Javier Solorio Jr, 39, died after he was attacked by a shark off Surf Beach near the Vandenberg Air Force Base in Lompoc California, according to the Associated Press.
The shark bit Solorio in the torso while surfing. A friend that was with him witnessed the attack and swam over to him. He then pulled him out of the water and began to give him first aid. Another surfer called emergency services.
Solorio was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.
It is not immediately clear what type of shark attacked Solorio.
Surf Beach didn't have any warning signs about sharks. Signs usually aren't posted unless there is a sighting.
However, back in August, there were three shark sightings within a week off the waters on Santa Barbara. Signs were posted around the area of Santa Barbara Harbor, 65 miles southeast of Surf Beach, after these sightings.
"We've had shark sightings up and down the Santa Barbara coastline pretty frequently recently," said Lt. Erik Raney told AP.
This isn't the first time that someone was attacked by a shark off Santa Barbara. Lucas Random, 19, also died in 2012 after a shark mutilated his leg while he was body-boarding, according to AP.
David Martin, a triathlete was killed by a 15-foot great white shark near the coast of San Diego.
Back in July, a man was thrown from his kayak by a great white shark near Santa Cruz, but he was able to escape without being harmed. Another man in Cambria also escaped injury when a shark bit into his kayak. A 15-year-old girl also had a scare off Catalina Island when a shark bit into her paddle board.
Those who live in the area may not need warning signs as news of shark sightings is widely publicized. It is up to a person's own discretion to choose to follow the warnings or not.
Shark attack related deaths are rare. There is an average of 65 shark attacks each year which lead to two of three deaths, according to the AP.
For a list of shark attacks that have occurred this year and their locations, Click Here.
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This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
