Surfer Washed Up in PB With Shark Bite Wounds…

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Ok, this story is tripping me out. Who in the world takes their wetsuit off while out in the water? Then ties it to their surfboard? Shark bite wound appear to be post-death by drowning? Something is fishy. Prayers to the family of this dude… to his fiance that called in the missing persons report. She must be going through her own personal hell. I’ve surfed Tourmaline dozens of times in my life… can’t imagine strolling up and finding a dead body in the kelp with shark bites in it… what a trip. Read the whole story below.

NBC – As they confirmed the body discovered near Tourmaline Beach was that of a missing surfer, lifeguards revealed the man’s body had wounds consistent with a shark attack.

The surfer was the subject of a search in the waters of Tourmaline Surf Park in the 5100 block of La Jolla Boulevard Wednesday night.

At approximately 10 p.m., San Diego police received a missing person report from a woman who said her fiancé had gone surfing and hadn’t returned.

Around 3:35 a.m., the 42-year-old man was found lying in the kelp at the water line near Tourmaline Beach, several hundred yards from where the search was initiated lifeguards said.

When the body was recovered, there were wounds and trauma on the body that are consistent with what medical examiners would expect from a shark attack according to San Diego Lifeguards Lt. John Everhart.

He said initial evidence indicates the attack may have happened after death.

“The thought is the person drowned in the waters off PB and then some time after that event, was the shark attack incident,” Everhart said.

Officials are not sure why the man may have been submerged in the water. Hypothermia, ocean conditions, an unrelated medical condition, accidental drowning or suicide are all possible Everhart said.

Lifeguards say this is an unusual case in that the man took his wet suit off and tied it around his surf board “in a very purposeful manner.” There were no signs of struggle. No damage was done to the surfboard or the wet suit lifeguards said.

“That someone would take their wet suit off while they’re out at sea, and then tie it around their surf board and then disappear,” the 29-year veteran lifeguard said. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”

The surf board was found in the water, approximately 250 yards out from the shore.

The county’s medical examiner will investigate further and release a cause of death.

Officials searched the area from the shore and by boat overnight. A San Diego Fire-Rescue helicopter also helped in the search.

One surfer said he noticed something unusual off shore when he saw a surfer very far out in the water.

“He was really, really far out there. Like double the distance of where the other surfers were at the time,” said surfer Tommy Calagna.

Calagna said soon after, he lost sight of the man.

He said when a surfer goes out with his wet suit, he usually doesn’t take it off until he comes in.

No shark sightings have been reported in the area. Officials have not identified what type of shark may have made the wounds or marks.

Like I said… so bizarre.

-bp

[lobbed by Bullfrog]

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