Shark attack kills 26-year-old surfer near Watsonville

A 26-year-old surfer was killed Saturday when he was attacked by a shark while surfing at Manresa State Beach, about five miles west of Watsonville, the California Department of Parks and Recreation said.

Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s personnel were called at about 1:30 p.m. Saturday to the state parks beach, about a mile south of the main parking lot. A 26-year-old man had been attacked by an “unknown shark species,” State Parks said in a news release.

The victim, who was not immediately identified, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Following State Parks protocol, the water off of Manresa State Beach one mile south and north of where the surfer was attacked will be closed for five days, reopening Thursday.

No further information was immediately available.