Featured Image Credit: Mark Shwartz via Youtube
By Sarah Sharkey
A 10-foot Great White Shark was stranded on Pleasure Point beach in Santa Cruz, California. The shark washed up on Friday evening and it has been confirmed that the shark died.
Onlookers watched as the shark thrashed in the surf, trying to escape. Big waves- up to 13 feet- continually pounded the distressed animal. Onlookers alerted emergency personnel who quickly came to the scene. No people were injured by the shark, but some onlookers were getting a little too close in order to take pictures of this stressed shark. Sean Von Sommeran of the Pelagic Research Foundation said, “it’s not helping” in response to the people taking pictures very close to this stranded shark.
The Pelagic Research Foundation came out to the beach to attempt rescuing the animal. They were able to get it out into the water twice, but the swell washed it back to the shore both times. Von Sommeran said that he believed the shark was sick.
Unfortunately, the shark did eventually die. It appeared to die due to either a hook caught in its mouth or a nervous system infection. Since it did die, the body will be taken to a California Department of Fish and Wildlife facility.