Fatal Shark Attack Near Vandenberg: Victim Identified
Written by KEY News Staff
Vandenberg - Officials at Vandenberg Air Force Base have confirmed to KEY News that a 39-year-old man died this morning in a shark attack near Surf Beach.
The victim is identified as Francisco Javier Solorio Jr. from Orcutt. The initial investigation shows Solorio was bitten in the upper torso area. Authorities say he was surfing with three friends at the time.
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department says its dispatch center received a 911 call at 10:58 a.m. stating that a man had been bit by a shark while surfing near Surf Beach in Lompoc. A friend of the victim who was also surfing at the time witnessed the attack and swam over to help by pulling the victim out of the water and onto the beach. The friend started first aid procedures while another surfer called 911. Paramedics from Vandenberg Air Force Base arrived a short time later and took over until the victim was pronounced dead at the scene.
Sheriff's officials from the Santa Maria Station say the victim's surfboard had visible signs of bite marks. A shark bite expert has been called to confirm the injury.
In a statement released by base officials, they say the "incident" happened about 500 yards north of Surf Station. No where in the press release do base officials refer to a shark or a shark attack. The statement also says the 39-year-old man who died is not affiliated with the base.
Surf Beach has been closed until further notice. Santa Barbara County and Vandenberg officials will determine when to reopen the beach once their investigation is complete.
KEY News has a crew on the scene.
The site of this latest fatal attack is close to where a giant Great White shark killed UCSB student Lucas Ransom in 2010. It is almost two years to the day since Ransom's attack on October 22nd, 2010
The victim is identified as Francisco Javier Solorio Jr. from Orcutt. The initial investigation shows Solorio was bitten in the upper torso area. Authorities say he was surfing with three friends at the time.
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department says its dispatch center received a 911 call at 10:58 a.m. stating that a man had been bit by a shark while surfing near Surf Beach in Lompoc. A friend of the victim who was also surfing at the time witnessed the attack and swam over to help by pulling the victim out of the water and onto the beach. The friend started first aid procedures while another surfer called 911. Paramedics from Vandenberg Air Force Base arrived a short time later and took over until the victim was pronounced dead at the scene.
Sheriff's officials from the Santa Maria Station say the victim's surfboard had visible signs of bite marks. A shark bite expert has been called to confirm the injury.
In a statement released by base officials, they say the "incident" happened about 500 yards north of Surf Station. No where in the press release do base officials refer to a shark or a shark attack. The statement also says the 39-year-old man who died is not affiliated with the base.
Surf Beach has been closed until further notice. Santa Barbara County and Vandenberg officials will determine when to reopen the beach once their investigation is complete.
KEY News has a crew on the scene.
The site of this latest fatal attack is close to where a giant Great White shark killed UCSB student Lucas Ransom in 2010. It is almost two years to the day since Ransom's attack on October 22nd, 2010
Source: http://www.keyt.com/news/local/Possible-Shark-Attack-Near-Vandenberg-175463551.html
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