Surfer Lives to Tell the Tale How He Survived a 13-Feet Great White Shark Attack in California

A great white shark attack was reported in a beach in Ferndale, California, involving a surfer named Michael 'Jared' Trainor, 31, who drove to the beach back on October 2.

Although the California man survived the horrific incident, he sustained severe injuries when the 13-feet great white shark bit his right leg. More than two weeks after the shark attack, Trainor tells the tale of how he survived the ordeal.

California Great White Shark Attack

(Photo : JOSEPH PREZIOSO/AFP via Getty Images)

The 31-year-old father of one initially planned to go to another beach area until his friend called him about a different location where "the surf was good" or a part of the beach where the waves are larger and more frequent, enough to be ideal for surfing.

Trainor told Fox News that he was thinking about how locals call the month of October as "Sharktober," emphasizing that it has been known in that community that surfing alone is dangerous during this time of the year.

Despite knowing the shark threat, Trainor reportedly continued to hit the waves at Centerville Beach even if he initially thought of not going to the spot at all. Before disaster struck, the surfer said he noticed many seals in the shallow parts of the ocean, which was potentially a sign that something is lurking in the depths.

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Apparent Seal Attack

The initial attack occurred several minutes after Trainor paddled with his surf board and hit the waves. The surfer added that he must have been in the water for 10 minutes and not even 15 minutes when the first set of waves came through, as cited by UNILAD.

Trainor then passed through the waves and already felt an ominous feeling until the next thing he knew he was already under water after being dragged by an unknown marine animal at that time. Multiple media reports said Trainor initially thought it was a seal since the deepest contact point was around his knee and felt like a smaller bite.

The 31-year-old used his left leg to kick and force the predator to let go, allowing him to go back towards the shore where another surfer helped him and called an ambulance.

Confirmation of the Attack

Trainor said he did not realize how badly injured he was until the fire department came in and wrapped a tourniquet to his leg. It was only when the responders cut his suit Trainor saw the bite marks in the board and realized the unknown attacker was a shark.

Doctors who attended for Trainor said he was lucky to be alive, wherein the surfer later learned that he was attacked by a great white shark estimated to be around 13 feet long.

The recent California shark attack is only part of a series of shark attacks across the state's coastline waters in recent years. According to the California Academy of Sciences, an average of 1.8 shark attacks have occurred in California in the last decade, adding that most or all unprovoked attacks involved a great white shark.