SOLANA BEACH – As reported by the Union Tribune News Team several North County beaches were closed Friday morning after a man was killed in a shark attack north of Fletcher Cove, officials said.
Dave Martin, 66, was attacked as he was swimming about 150 yards offshore shortly after 7 a.m.
A helicopter initially was sent to take Martin to a hospital, but he was pronounced dead at a lifeguard station.
Witnesses told lifeguards that a ‘big gray shark’ attacked Martin, biting both his legs, said Solana Beach Marine Safety Capt. Craig Miller.
Martin was swimming with a group of about 10 others, heading north from Fletcher Cove, near Tide Park, when the attack occurred. The group regularly swims in the area. All the swimmers were wearing wet suits.
This location is near the US NAVY SEAL basic training(BUDS) base, Coronado Island, where SEAL trainees do a lot of long-distance ocean swimming in groups.
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