Fatal Shark Attack, San Diego, Initial Press Conference

First known shark attack fatality in North County, San Diego. Believed to be a 12-17 foot Great White. Early press conference footage shortly after attack, from Fletcher Cove in Solana Beach with Deputy Fire Chief, Mayor, and Lifeguard Captain. Victim was Dr. David Martin, 66 year old swimmer, April, 25, 2008. Footage from photojournalist Ari Marsh with his additional commentary below:

It was a beautiful morning in North County, almost pristine, with warm weather and small, glassy surf. I was in Encinitas, near Moonlight Beach, when Coast Guard helicopters began flying up and down the coast broadcasting a shocking announcement. "There has been a fatal shark attack in the area. Exit the ocean immediately!" I was stunned, having lived most of my life by the ocean in Southern California, and being a surfer for the last 25 years, I've never experienced something like this. As the eerie helicopter announcements continued, surfers and swimmers evacuated, leaving this pristine morning strangely vacant.

Details surfaced soon after, near the site of the attack in Solana Beach. Apparently, the attack happened at approximately 7:00 a.m, Friday morning, April 25, 2008, near a surf break known as Tabletops, near Fletcher Cove in Solana Beach. A group of strong swimmers in training for a triathlon were approximately 100-150 yards off the coast, when one of the men, 66 year old Dr. David Martin, a healthy, retired veterinarian, began screaming for help. His friends nearby him in the ocean described the attack as "absolutely ferocious." Dr. Martin was pulled to the shore by his friends in an attempt to save him, but died almost immediately. His injuries were reportedly very severe, leaving his legs "mangled." It is believed he died from loss of blood due to the extreme nature of the attack. Experts have estimated, based on examination of the wounds, the shark was a 12-17' Great White.

This is the first ever fatal shark attack in North County San Diego history. During the last few days, there have also been reports of a baby shark in the nearby area, and several seal pups have appeared stranded on shore.
County authorities have issued a 72 hour advisory for all swimmers and surfers to stay out of the water.

Blessings go out to David Martin and his family and loved ones. Yes indeed, when we enter into the ocean, we enter a grand, immense wilderness that we still yet scarcely understand. Peace to all. Enjoy life, appreciate the moment, and savor what you have while you've got it.
--Ari Marsh

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• shark
• attack
• san
• diego
• news
• photo
• journalism
• ari
• marsh

[yoda55]

So are people going to go out to find and kill the shark that killed him?

[arimarsh]

The days of JAWS and hunting the man-eating beast are over. Great Whites are a protected species and hunting/killing them is illegal, at least off Cali. The thing to remember is the ocean is a vast wilderness and sharks are a part of it. When we enter the ocean, there are definite risks. But being close to the "pulse" - close to life in its rawness - is the point, especially for surfers. Indeed, this is a horrible tragedy, and the threat of sharks is terrifying, but we can't sterilize the ocean.

[arimarsh]

North County seemed pretty shocked today overall. I know the surfing community in general seems to be experiencing a sort of loss of innocence in that there was a sense that Great Whites didn't really roam around here much, and if they did, they meandered way outside past the kelp beds. The ocean is indeed a vast wilderness. Blessings to David Martin and his family.

[bmwm3guy]

This is my best friends dad. He was a great guy and I pray for him. I am here for his family and my friend. Please pray for them.

[arimarsh]

So sorry to hear about that. Everyone says he was such a good guy. Terrible irony that he spent his life being a veterinarian, helping injured and sick animals, and he left the world in such a harsh way. Blessings to his family...

[TomFromJersey]

Was the shark on fire?

[Maverz290]

@arimarsh ....we 'can', but we shouldn't.

[surfingcali69]

Get rid of the food source and sharks won't frequent area

[surfingcali69]

Bottom line he was fish food for a great white, carpet bomb the shore line, every morning to clear the water of sharks, or just don't go in

Over 2 ft

[rileygaus]

ya ok i dont belive its your best friends dad

[megamania320]

I hope that all of you who think this video is funny know that I knew the victim personally and if I knew where you were right now I would punch you so hard in the face you'd have to talk out of your a******

[Sittin0nTheToilet]

@Samborube who asked for your sympathy? and killing the shark won't change a thing it's an ocean afterall and he owns it. but the guy is dead I think praying for him is way better than mentioning ignorance and stupidity.

R.I.P

[tazong]

champagne corks kill more people each year than great white sharks

what you gonna do - smash all the bottles of champagne you see?

complete dick?

[alkhars11]

gf humen gf shark

[bigbuffler]

Truly tragic, but preventable. What's he doing 200 yards offshore? We saw people swimming across 12-mile-wide Buzzards Bay and 2-mile-wide Vineyard Sound (both in Massachusetts) last week. More triathletes, I guess. Brilliant----both areas known as haunts of the Great White. Kid was killed by one in Mattapoisett, MA way back in 1936, I've seen about a 15-foot Great White from my sailboat. Gotta be smart about the ocean.

[Bitchesgivehigh5s]

LOL we have some airsupport up and looking for the shark!! Yeah you can see some shit but not everything.... Mine as well get a submarine.