Surfer Francisco Javier Solorio Jr, 36, of Orcutt, California died Tuesday, October 23, 2012 after being bitten by a shark while surfing Surf Beach in Lompoc, California at about 11 AM, according to a story in the Greenfield Reporter.
He was bitten by the shark in his upper torso. . . Solorio “had a friend who he was surfing with who saw the shark bite or hit the man,” said sheriff’s Sgt. Mark A. Williams. “His friend ended up swimming over and pulling him from the water where he received first aid.” . . .The friend started first aid while another surfer called for help, but Solorio was pronounced dead by paramedics at the scene.
According to Scripps Institute of Oceanography’s Andrew Nosal quoted in the LA Times, “it was probably a great white,” Nosal said. “There is no other species swimming off of the coast regularly that could possibly do that kind of damage.”
This is the second death at Surf Beach in recent years. Lucas McKaine Ransom, 19, was killed on Friday, October 22, 2010 almost two years ago to the day of this attack. Our thoughts are with Solorio’s family and friends.
[Link: Greenfield Reporter and LA Times]
