An undated photograph of a Great White Shark swimming off Gansbaai, about 180 kms from Cape Town, South Africa
A great white shark bit a long-distance swimmer in California as it was being reeled in by a fisherman Saturday.
The seven-foot (2.13-meter) shark bit the swimmer around 9:30 am (1630 GMT) off Manhattan Beach, the Los Angeles County Fire Department said on its Twitter feed.
The fisherman had been struggling with the hooked shark for about 40 minutes when the fish bit the swimmer.
"Shark was hooked to fishermans line, long distance swimmer got close, was bit while shark was biting through fishing line," the LACFD tweeted.
The beach was closed for a mile (1.6 kilometers) north and south of the Manhattan Beach Pier.
Paramedics took the victim to a local hospital to treat moderate injuries. The swimmer, listed as being in "stable" condition, was expected to survive.
Los Angeles County Fire Inspector Rick Flores said the apex predator was tired and angry when it took an aim at its victim.
"Being that the shark was agitated, it bit," Flores told KPCC radio. "Basically, a bite and release of the upper right torso of one of the swimmers."
© 2014 AFP
