Sharks are in the ocean. We all know that, but we generally expect them to stay there. That was not the case at Pleasure Point in Santa Cruz on Friday afternoon, when an 8-foot shark washed up on shore.
A crowd quickly gathered on the cliffs above, watching the shark as it thrashed about in the water. Obviously disoriented and bleeding, it struggled in the surf.
According to CNN, it’s a great white, but others, like Shawn Dollar, claim that it’s a salmon shark. After authorities were notified by onlookers, a sheriff’s patrol unit showed up to warn onlookers to stay well away from the shark. The Pelagic Shark Research Foundation was called to assist in rescue attempts. Santa Cruz legend Anthony Tashnick also tried to muscle the shark back out to see, but their attempts were fruitless.
Researchers aren’t sure exactly why the shark beached itself, but its outlook isn’t good. Sadly, its survival is unlikely.
