On June 2, 2024, a shark attack at Del Mar City Beach, located about 20 miles north of San Diego, resulted in significant but non-life-threatening injuries to a 46-year-old swimmer named Caleb. The incident occurred around 8 a.m. when he was roughly 100 yards from a beach lifeguard station swimming with a group of about a dozen people.
Caleb was bitten on the torso, left arm, and hand. Lifeguards Kevin Barrett and Cameron Whiting responded immediately upon hearing his screams, along with assistance from a nearby surfer and an ER doctor who happened to be on the beach. Caleb reportedly punched the shark before being rescued.
The incident led to the temporary closure of the beach for surfers and swimmers until Tuesday morning, while a search using a drone and boat failed to locate the shark due to poor water visibility. Additional measures, including testing Caleb's wetsuit, are underway to determine the shark species involved.