Latest news with #MontaraStateBeach
Daily Mail
03-06-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
Horror as 10ft shark rams surfer into the ocean and circles him before destroying his board
A California surfer was left fearing for his life after coming face-to-face with a huge shark that destroyed his board just off the coast of a popular beach. Jens Heller had only paddled 100 yards off the shore of Montara State Beach on May 31 when he felt a sudden lurch under his surfboard and something hit his foot from below the water. At first, the father thought he'd hit a rock - but he soon realized the truth was far more terrifying. The impact caused him to wobble and eventually fall from his board. When he came up from under the water, he was making direct eye contact with the beady black eyes and sharp, pointed teeth of one of the ocean's most terrifying creatures. 'I shoved the board towards the shark and tried to kick to get away, but then it let go of the board pretty quickly and just swam away,' he told SFGATE. The 42-year-old then grabbed his board and paddled towards the shore as fast as he could, although he still wasn't sure he'd make it out alive. He told local news outlets that his wife and six-month-old daughter were waiting back on the beach, completely oblivious to Heller's brush with the creature. Once safely on land and out of harm's way, Heller took a closer look at the damage his aquatic nemesis had done to the surfboard. It was only then he realized just how close its teeth had come to his foot. The board sustained several bite marks, but the Albany, California resident is calling them 'curiosity bites,' knowing the predator could've torn him and the board to shreds if it really wanted to. Several nearby surfers witnessed the encounter and one of them estimated that Heller's attacker was about 10 feet long. The species is currently unclear but Heller told local sources he believes it may have been a white shark. Montara State Beach officials have taken samples from the board to confirm. Despite coming a little too close for comfort, Heller says he's going to keep surfing, just maybe not at Montara State Beach - at least not for a while. 'Yeah, I will go back out.,' he said to local news channel ABC7. 'I have to be in the water at some point again.' California State Park Information Officer Adeline Yee told Daily Mail that following the incident at 2pm on May 31, lifeguards cleared the water and posted shark closure signage. The beach has reopened as of 2pm on Monday, June 3. Though he attempted to patch it up, the surfboard is now retired. Heller says it will go on his wall as a badge of honor Yee also said: 'California State Parks would like to remind visitors that sharks are an important part of the coastal ecosystem and that interactions between people and sharks are rare.' Despite the terrifying encounter, Heller remains optimistic. He told local sources that he's glad to have an excuse to buy a new surfboard, even noting that this one was getting old anyway. Though he attempted to patch it up, the surfboard is now retired. Heller says it will go on his wall as a badge of honor.
CBS News
02-06-2025
- General
- CBS News
California surfer survives weekend shark attack off Montara State Beach
A surfer was not injured after a shark bit into his surfboard during an attack off a beach in San Mateo County over the weekend. California State Parks officials told CBS News Bay Area that the attack took place off Montara State Beach around 2 p.m. Saturday. Lifeguards and officers responded to the incident, which happened about 100 yards offshore. Officials said a surfboard sustained damage consistent with a shark bite. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, 42-year-old Jens Heller of Albany was in the water for about 10 to 15 minutes when the incident took place. His wife and 6-month old daughter were enjoying the beach while he went out surfing. Heller said that he fell off his board during the incident. After the shark let go of the board, he swam back to shore. "It was my lucky day, I guess," he told the newspaper. In response, lifeguards cleared the water and implemented a 48-hour closure of the beach. The beach is expected to reopen to the public at 2 p.m. Monday. The agency said in a statement that sharks are an important part of the coastal ecosystem and that interactions between people and sharks are rare.
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Shark attacks Montara State Beach surfer, chomps board
The Brief A surfer was attacked by a shark about 100 yards off of Montara State Beach in San Mateo County. The man was unhurt, though his surfboard was left with deep bite marks. The beach was set to remain closed for at least 48 hours following the attack, according to California State Parks SAN MATEO COUNTY, Calif. - A surfer survived a close encounter with a shark just off Montara State Beach over the weekend, though his equipment wasn't so fortunate. The encounter Jens Heller paddled out from the beach on Saturday afternoon and was sitting on his board out on the water when he said he felt something brush against his leg. The next thing he knew, he was in the ocean. When he surfaced and looked back, he said all he could see was a black eye over a huge mouth chomping down on his surfboard. Heller said he snatched his board and made it back to shore as quickly as he could. Two other surfers were in the water with him at the time, and followed suit when they saw the attack. Once they all reached safety, one of the other surfers told Heller that he estimated the shark to be about 10-feet long. Heller said he only saw its face, and adrenaline precluded any further analysis. Heller told his story to Powerlines Productions – a Half Moon Bay-based show that has documented "the surfing stroke and lifestyle" since the 1980's. On the show, he displayed deep bite marks on both sides of his surfboard. Heller himself, however, was completely unhurt in the ordeal. The official account Adeline Lee of California State Parks confirmed to KTVU that lifeguards and peace officers responded about 2 p.m. on Saturday to Montara State Beach on reports of a non-injury shark attack that occurred about 100 yards offshore. Responders learned of the surfboard that had "sustained damage consistent with a shark bite," which prompted lifeguards to immediately clear the water and close the beach with shark closure signage, Lee said. The beach was set to remain closed for at least 48 hours following the attack, Lee said. The Source Powerlines Productions, California State Parks
