Sea Lion Attacks Lifeguard
POSTED: 2:39 pm EDT July 6,
2005
UPDATED: 3:34 pm EDT July 6,
2005
A lifeguard in Santa Barbara, Calif., is recovering Wednesday after being attacked by a sea lion in the waters off El Capitan State Beach.
Officials said Jim West was bitten three times Monday while he swam about 50 yards offshore. West needed about 30 stitches after the attack.
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"He's lucky," witness Eric Gatti said. "He was lucky to be alive. If he wasn't swimming, and he wasn't a lifeguard, he might have been cut up more."Beachgoers have now been warned to steer clear of sea lions."What are the chances of that happening again?" beach visitor Holly Hopkins said. "I mean you never hear about that happening. Sharks, yeah, but not sea lions."Authorities say there have only been about 10 sea lions attacks on humans along the West Coast in the last century.Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.
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IMAGES: More strange stories, images featured on Local6.com "He's lucky," witness Eric Gatti said. "He was lucky to be alive. If he wasn't swimming, and he wasn't a lifeguard, he might have been cut up more."Beachgoers have now been warned to steer clear of sea lions."What are the chances of that happening again?" beach visitor Holly Hopkins said. "I mean you never hear about that happening. Sharks, yeah, but not sea lions."Authorities say there have only been about 10 sea lions attacks on humans along the West Coast in the last century.Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.
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