Stretch Of Sunset Beach Closed Again Following Shark Sightings

SUNSET BEACH (CBSLA.com) — A mile-stretch of sand along Sunset Beach in Huntington Beach was closed again for swimming and surfing Monday after multiple shark sightings.

A Huntington Beach police helicopter patrolling over Sunset Beach Monday afternoon spotted two 12-foot sharks and a 10-foot shark off the coast from Anderson Street, Huntington Beach Marine Safety Lt. Claude Panis said.

The beach had reopened just five hours earlier following a closure prompted by shark sightings Sunday.

At least one shark was visible off Sunset Beach Monday afternoon from Sky9, Stu Mundel reported.

Chris Lowe, director of Cal State Long Beach's shark lab, said the sharks in the Sky9 footage captured Sunday appeared to be between six and eight feet long.

But he did not rule out the possibility of larger sharks, like the 12-footers reported Monday, from making appearances in local waters.

"At this time of year it is possible there are adults in our waters," Lowe said.

Lt. Claude Panis, of Huntington Beach Fire Department's Marine Safety Division, said his department is always on the lookout for larger sharks that could prompt a beach closure.

"Whenever there's a sighting of an 8-foot long shark, we do our due diligence and close the waters down," Panis said.

The sharks didn't appear to be aggressive, he said.

Beach closures following a shark sighting typically last between 12 to 24 hours.

Sunset Beach runs between Anderson and Warner streets.

Some Orange County residents said they're on edge after a shark attacked a 52-year-old woman off Corona del Mar State Beach May 29.

Maria Korcsmaros was swimming more than a mile out at sea -- training for a half-Iron Man competition scheduled for July -- when the attack happened.

Korcsmaros was pulled bleeding from the ocean about 4:15 p.m. that day by lifeguards on an offshore patrol boat who noticed she was in distress. She remains hospitalized with a large bite wound on the right side of her body that stretches from her upper body to her pelvic area.

Doctors said Korcsmaros' physical condition and discipline were instrumental in her survival from the serious injuries she suffered. She is expected to recover.

Lifeguards said they will reassess the situation Tuesday morning to determine when the beach will reopen.

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