Ryan Prosser
Published January 17, 2026 7:08pm
Updated January 17, 2026 7:16pm
Share this article via whatsappShare this article via xCopy the link to this article.Link is copiedShare this article via facebook
Comment now
Comments
Tommy Civik was ‘sent flying’ after being bitten by a shark while surfing of the coast of California (Picture: Instagram)
A surfer has described the moment he was ‘sent flying’ by a shark which destroyed his board off the coast of California.
Tommy Civik had been in the sea for less than ten minutes when he wasattacked at the large creature before he had even seen it approaching.
The incident was witnessed by his friend Marco Guerrero, who said he saw the shark bite Mr Civik before snatching half his surfboard.
With teeth marks in his leg and around 150ft from dry land, Mr Civik was forced to make a swim for it to escape from the beast.
He only noticed the extent of his bite wounds after he had come out of the water in Gualala, Mendocino County.
Mr Civik was enjoying the waves off the coast of Gualala when he encountered the shark, which attacked him before he noticed it approaching him (Picture: Getty Images)
Recounting his ordeal, he told LA Times: ‘I was unbelievably lucky. My board took all the impact, and the teeth just grazed me.’
However despite being in shock, and with first responders arriving on the scene, Mr Civik insisted on driving himself to the hospital.
‘I had quite a bit of adrenaline, and since I could walk, I drove myself to the hospital’, he said.
His wounds required stitches and his ripped wetsuit is being tested by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife in order to identify what type of shark made the attack.
Mr Civik, however, remains undeterred and is determined to take to the water once again.
‘f it’s already unlikely to get attacked by a shark once, how could it happen twice?’, he asked.
‘I don’t think this will stop me.’
Divers search for missing swimmer Erica Fox who disappeared off Monterey beach, California over Christmas. She was found dead days later (Picture: Monterey County Sheriff’s Office)
Not all shark encounters have ended on such good terms however.
Last week a swimmer was killed by a shark while taking a dip at a Caribbean beach.
More Trending
-
Pastry chef who died after falling in dough mixer pictured for the first time
Channel: US US 8 hours ago By Sarah Ping - ICE agent who shot dead Renee Good is now a millionaire through online fundraisers
- Farage says 'thanks for the money' after he’s tricked into Ian Watkins tribute
- Everything we know about Charlie Kirk’s alleged ‘assassin’ Tyler Robinson
Arlene Lillis, 56, was heard screaming swimming after entering the water at Dorsch beach, Saint Croix in the US Virgin Islands.
Two witnesses, including a nearby snorkeller attempted to save her and bring her to land, however she was only able to tell them her name and that she was going to die.
In another incident, 55-year-old Erica Fox was found dead over Christmas after disappearing off Monterey beach in California.
She had been wearing a shark deterrent anklet when she went missing.
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at [email protected].
For more stories like this, check our news page.
Arrow MORE: Everything we know about Charlie Kirk’s alleged ‘assassin’ Tyler Robinson
Arrow MORE: America’s ‘luckiest woman’ won lottery four times – and expert thinks he knows how
Arrow MORE: ICE agent who shot dead Renee Good is now a millionaire through online fundraisers
Comment now Comments Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source News UpdatesStay on top of the headlines with daily email updates.
Email I agree to receive newsletters from Metro I agree to receive newsletters from Metro Sign UpSign UpThis site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Your information will be used in line with our Privacy Policy