Big River Beach Shark Attack
Huge shark was visible from the shore
updated 9:40 p.m.
Bystanders rushed to aid a man bitten by a shark Wednesday afternoon off Big River Beach, helping stabilize him before emergency crews arrived. The man was reported in stable condition, according to early accounts from the scene.
The attack occurred around 5:15 p.m. at the beach just south of Mendocino. The victim made it to shore on his own and was located at the far north end of the beach, where responders requested an all-terrain vehicle to reach him.
Witnesses told Linda Little of MendocinoCoast.News that the shark as “gigantic,” visible from shore “as if it was a whale.” Several said the animal struck the man multiple times and then circled him and the surfers who entered the water to help.
Daniel O’Connor, a tourist visiting Mendocino, told Linda Little he watched from bluffs near Mendocino Presbyterian Church and could see the shark circling the rescuers. He said those in the water appeared unaware, and he and others shouted warnings from shore.
Emergency radio traffic indicated the injuries were serious but did not involve arterial bleeding. A paramedic advised that a helicopter might not be necessary, though an air ambulance was already en route at the time.
Agencies responding included California State Parks and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Worldwide, there were a total of 65 confirmed cases of unprovoked shark bits in 2025. This is in line with the five-year average of 61 annual incidents between 2020 and 2024, according to the Florida Museum.
The United States led the world in 2025 with 25 unprovoked shark bites, which are defined as a bite that happens when a human is in a shark’s natural habitat and is not trying to touch, feed, or harass the shark. In the United States, Florida recorded 11 unprovoked shark bites — the highest recorded number. California ranked second with five unprovoked bites.