A surfer has been killed in a shark attack off the California coast at Surf Beach in Santa Barbara County.
The 39 year old victim Francisco Javier Solorio Jr. died after being bitten in the upper torso.
Police said that the type of shark involved in the attack and other details were still under investigation.
The sheriff’s department said the attack was witnessed by a friend of the victim, who swam to his aid and pulled him out of the water.
The friend started first aid while another surfer called for help, but the victim was pronounced dead by paramedics at the scene.
Surf Beach is located on Vandenberg Air Force Base, but remains accessible to the public.
Surfer Lucas Ransom was attacked by a great white shark at the same beach two years ago and died from loss of blood.
Warning signs were posted at Santa Barbara Harbour, about 65 miles south-east of Surf Beach last month after a large great white shark was spotted by a surfer.
“We’ve had shark sightings up and down the Santa Barbara coastline pretty frequently recently,” Lt Erik Raney told Associated Press.
But he said Surf Beach had not displayed any public alert notices so far. Officials at Vandenberg advised people to stay away from the beach following Tuesday morning’s attack.