Calif Bodyboarder Killed in Shark Attack

Beaches on California's Central Coast were shut down today and there was no word on when they would reopen after a deadly attack on a bodyboarder from what some scientists said was probably a great white shark.

The three beaches north of Santa Barbara, including Surf Beach where the attack took place, would be closed at least through the weekend and officials on Monday would decide when to reopen them, said Jeremy Eggers, spokesman for Vandenberg Air Force Base, which owns the beach property.

Eggers said he expected base officials would reopen the beaches Monday, but there was too much uncertainty and confusion surrounding the attack to say for sure.

"There's a lot of fog and friction in these kinds of situations," said Eggers. He said his bosses determined the shutdown "was the right thing to do as a safety precaution."

Lucas Ransom, a 19 year old student at the University of California, Santa Barbara, was bodyboarding with friend Matthew Garcia off Surf Beach, 130 miles northwest of Los Angeles on Friday when the shark pulled him under the water. He resurfaced with his leg nearly severed, Garcia told authorities.

Ransom had a severe wound to his left leg and died a short time later at Surf Beach, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department said in a statement.

Federal and state Fish and Game officials were working to identify the type of shark that attacked Ransom. A shark expert told the Los Angeles Times, based on its behavior and Ransom's injury, it most likely was a great white.

"It takes a shark of massive size and jaw to inflict that kind of injury," Andrew Nosal of the Scripps Institute of Oceanography told authorities at Vanderberg AFB.

Raw Video Credit: The Associated Press and CNN News.

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[cnaptakmockba]

R.I.P Lucas Ransom

[thowmaz]

aswel on commentors on this vid as the people in the vid itself: show some respect, a person just died. rip

[Metalmanmania357]

@byJessCh I agree, with no body, it hinders the grieving process greatly and provides no closure for family's trying to deal with tragedy.

[Metalmanmania357]

The grief this kids parents must be going through is a tough thought for me to bare. Nets Nets Nets It should be illegal to surf in an area without shark nets. My heart truly goes out to the family of this young man who was killed so early in life.

[byJessCh]

at least his parents could bury him. it'd be much worse if there was no body. rest in peace young man.

[PokerFish2006]

@raoulmoatify

You stupid dum chav

[ericpelayo]

once u lose some one u grew up with and went to school with since 2nd grade then he dies and u no how one feels dont ttalk crap bout the subject

[masni92]

the shark mistakes the boards figure for a seal of some sort. deal with it

[raoulmoatify]

SHARKS GOTTA EAT TOO, LEG SANDWICH