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Little Shark Causes a Big Scare
A helicopter sighting of a great white shark led to the closure of the Huntington Beach coastline until a lifeguard deemed it a non-threat.
An Anaheim police helicopter pilot’s sighting of a shark in Huntington Beach waters today prompted lifeguards to close water access for about 15 minutes before it was reopened when it was deemed the shark was less dangerous because of its young age.
Anaheim police radioed in the sighting at 10:49 a.m., Huntington Beach Marine Safety Lt. Claude Panis said.
The officer estimated the shark was 10 to 12 feet, which triggers a closure of the waters because of its size and approximate age, Panis said.
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A lifeguard went out to check on a jet-ski with directions from the helicopter pilot, Panis said.
“When we got a good look at it (the shark) was no bigger than seven feet,” Panis said. “It was just a baby juvenile great white -- typical of what we’ve been seeing all year now.”
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Because the shark is less than eight feet long, lifeguards reopened the water and posted advisory signs about the shark sighting, which will remain up for 24 hours, Panis said.
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