Fatal Shark Attack in Santa Barbara, CA

Some sad and shocking news hit the county of Santa Barbara, California this past Friday morning.  19 year-old college student Lucas Ransom was bit by a shark while body boarding (boogie boarding) at the Vandenberg Air Force Base's surf beach.  Lucas was apparently enjoying a decent swell that brought great waves to this popular surfing beach.  His friend  who was surfing (whose name was not mentioned) saw Lucas go under for a brief moment and then realized he was being attacked by a shark.  The shark bit his leg and took a chunk out of his body board and by the time his friend assisted him to safety along with other officials from the air force base, it was too late. 

After shark experts studied the bite on Lucas's board along with several tooth fragments which were stuck into the board their was no doubt that it was a Great White shark that caused this deadly attack.  The Great White was anywhere from 17 to 18 feet long and weighing 4,000 pounds.  This specific shark species is known to be "the perfect predator" and often body boarders and surfers are confused to be seals which is the sharks primary source of food.  This shark attack was the 13th deadly shark attack reported in California and has reminded many surfers and body boarders the dangers that can happen in the sport.  Anyone in the surf should always respect it and realize that you are in their territory, as far as Lucas their is no doubt in his extreme courage and passion to paddle out in the unexpected yet dangerous waters. 

Friends and fellow surfers in Santa Barbabra will paddle back out where the incident occurred later this week.  They will circle up and hold hands in remembrance of Lucas, then a Hawaiian lay will be placed in the circle as a blessing from the surf gods.  Lucas will never be forgotten in the sport that unfortunately took his life.