On Wednesday, March 18, at around 5:15 p.m., a shark attacked 39-year-old surfer James Eastman at Big River Beach in Mendocino Headlands State Park. Eastman is a school teacher from Mendocino. He had gone out for a surf session before picking up his nine-month-old baby from daycare.
What Happened
Eastman told ABC News he saw the shark’s head above the water. Witnesses on the bluffs spotted the predator from shore and described it as massive. According to local outlet Mendocino Coast News, tourist Daniel O’Connor watched from the cliff as the shark circled the victim and rescuers — and appeared to return to the victim more than once.
During the attack, Eastman kept his composure and punched the shark in the nose. The shark released the surfer and swam away. Eastman managed to stay on his board and paddle to shore.
Three surfers nearby — seasonal California State Parks lifeguards who were off duty — rushed to help, pulled Eastman from the water, and administered first aid. Eastman sustained injuries to both legs. He was transported by ambulance to Adventist Health in Fort Bragg.
“I Can’t Die. Not Now”
Eastman told reporters that during the attack, he was thinking about his wife and baby. His wife works in the emergency department. She learned about the attack while on shift — and said she collapsed to the floor in shock.
From his hospital bed, Eastman said he intends to get back in the water once he recovers.
Beaches Closed. Authorities Stayed Silent for Nearly 24 Hours
California State Parks closed Big River Beach and neighboring beaches for 48 hours — standard protocol following a shark attack. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife is collecting evidence at the scene.
Local residents and journalists have criticized authorities for their slow response. The following morning — in the middle of Whale Festival weekend — tourists on the beaches had no idea what had happened. There were no warning signs and no press releases. California State Parks issued a statement only on March 20 — two days after the attack.
Second Attack in Mendocino County in Three Months
This is the second shark incident in the county since the start of the year. On January 13, 26-year-old surfer Tommy Civik was attacked near the mouth of the Gualala River — roughly 50 miles north of Big River Beach. The shark launched him into the air and snapped his board in half. Civik got away with stitches on his thigh and drove himself to the hospital.
According to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, 234 shark incidents have been recorded in California since 1950. In 2025, there were ten — a state record. In Mendocino County itself, only seven cases have been documented in the entire history of record-keeping. Two of them occurred in the last three months.