A man was killed in a shark attack off a Northern California beach this weekend.
Ben Kelly, 26, had been described as an avid surfer who made a living customizing surfboards before he lost his life in a tragic surfing incident.
According to California State Parks (via Associated Press), Kelly had been surfing near Manresa State Beach on Saturday (May 9) afternoon when he was attacked by a shark of an unknown species. Authorities told the Santa Cruz Sentinel that a bystander who witnessed the attack within 100 yards offshore had alerted a lifeguard patrolling the area.
The beach had been closed to visitors to promote social distancing measures due to the ongoing COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, but visitors were allowed to swim and surf in the water.
Kelly, who owned Ben Kelly Surfboards, said his passion for shaping surfboards started as a boy. “You should feel stoked each time you enter the water and comfortable on your own board,” he wrote on the website for the business.
As of yet, authorities have closed the water one mile north and south from where the attack happened until Thursday (May 14). In addition, signs warning beachgoers of the attack have also been posted around the beach.
What’s more alarming is the uptick in sharks approaching the shoreline in recent days. Monterey Bay drone photographer Eric Mailander claims to have observed at least 15 sharks while on his boat that same Saturday morning, telling news station KRON that none of the sharks had exhibited aggressive behavior.
Photo: Getty Images