A good Samaritan helped save a shark-bite victim off Santa Rosa Island on Saturday.
According to a U.S. Coast Guard report, at around 3:15 p.m. a sailor aboard a boat named Jean Marie notified Coast Guard Sector Los Angeles Long Beach of a 37-year-old man who had been bitten on the leg by a shark while surfing.
“Watchstanders dispatched a Coast Guard Air Station San Francisco deployed Forward Operating Base Mugu MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew and a Coast Guard Station Channel Islands Harbor boat crew with an embarked Ventura County paramedic,” read the Coast Guard report.
The victim was airlifted to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital. A tourniquet was applied and the victim was reportedly stable, according to a Ventura County Fire Department spokesperson.
That was the best possible outcome to a truly terrifying situation,” said Lt. Benjamin McIntyre-Coble, the Coast Guard Sector-Los Angeles Long Beach command duty officer.
“This individual was fortunate to be with a buddy who was able to communicate their position to the Coast Guard. We are all happy that he will be able to be with his family in time for the holidays.”
The type of shark was unknown Saturday.
