SAN CLEMENTE, California – A 2-mile stretch of a popular Southern California beach was closed for the Memorial Day holiday after a shark knocked a surfer off his board the night before, authorities said.
The 24-hour closure in San Clemente was announced after the surfer emerged from the water and reported the shark’s aggressive behavior to lifeguards around 8 p.m. Sunday, the Orange County Register reported.
The surfer, who was not injured, was struck when he saw a large, dark object swimming toward him, said San Clemente Marine Safety Lt. Sean Staubenbaur.
The sand remained open to the public, but swimmers were warned to stay out of the water until 8pm on Monday.
Although disappointed, the closure didn’t stop 6-year-old Waylon Andino’s plans to raise funds with lemonade.
“It’s Memorial Day weekend, let’s enjoy it and have fun with the kids anyway and enjoy each other’s company,” Waylon’s mother, Kylie Andino, told the Register.
The sighting of a shark 10 feet or larger requires a shutdown, usually for several hours, while any type of aggressive behavior automatically triggers a 24-hour shutdown as long as there are no additional shark sightings.
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