 San Diego County has only reported four incidents in the last 15 years, meanwhile. Despite the bite to her thigh, the victim was able to reach safety thanks to a friend who was with her and she did not suffer life-threatening injuries. The woman's friend was described only as a person with "an odd backstroke". Another reason for the swimmer's survival may have been the likelihood that the bite came from a juvenile shark. Sharks can attack with powerful bites ( Getty Images/Image Source) Fully grown great whites can produce a bite force of up to 1.8 tonnes, well over that of an African lion and over 20 times more powerful than the bite of a human, according to a 2008 peer-reviewed study by the University of New South Wales. Lifeguard Cheif for Del Mar, Jon Edelbrock, said to NBC 7: "She had a diligent swim buddy. They both maintained their composure quite well." "They've noted there is a more significant larger juvenile white shark population here." Officials were forced to close the beach for 48 hours ( NBC) The beach remains closed for a period of 48 hours after the city's shark bite prot){kind=link}
A swimmer enjoying herself off the coast of California suffered a grim bite from a shark. Authorities in Del Mar near San Diego, California, were forced to issue a warning and lock down the beach
Officials in California have been forced to issue a warning after a San Diego swimmer was injured in a shark attack.
A woman in Del Mar beach, San Diego County, screamed for help as the opportunistic sea predator sank its sharp teeth into her leg.
The swimmer met the dangerous situation past the surf line in the waters at around 10am on Friday, in an attack that may have surprised a few locals.
The Del Mar beach area where the attack occurred had no previous reports of attacks, but authorities say the population of great whites, the largest and most feared type of shark, is on the rise.