San Diego Shark Attack Survivor Recounts Horrifc Experience of Being Mauled

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San Diego is one of the most popular and well-loved seaside cities on the California coastline, and its beaches are bound to be as busy as ever this summer. But for one unlucky San Diego swimmer, his summer got off to a bad start when he was brutally attacked by a shark - an encounter he narrowly survived.

On June 2, Caleb Adams was mauled by a shark during a morning swim, and only made it out of the water alive thanks to the quick intervention of some very brave Good Samaritans. Several weeks later, Caleb is out of the hospital and ready to tell his side of the story.

Speaking out on the @todayshow , Adams bared the "roadmap of shark bites" that scarred his torso after the horrific attack on June 2. Thankfully he wasn't alone on that terrible morning, as he was joined by 18 members of a swim group that regularly met on Del Mar Beach. Were he swimming solo, he might not have survived the brutal shark attack that happened soon after he entered the water.

Related: Popular Florida Beach Destination Hit by Multiple Shark Attacks Over the Weekend

"There was a strong hit to my body, and I knew I had been hit by a shark," Caleb recounted. He tussled with the animal for "seconds," and at one point he managed to strike the shark in the mouth, slicing open his left wrist, but his struggles were to no avail.

Fortunately, a pair of Good Samaritans heard Caleb's cries for help. Two swim group members, Cameron Whiting and Kevin Barret , put their lives at risk to intervene in an active shark attack and bring Adams back to shore, Lifeguards and paramedics soon arrived, and Caleb was rushed to a nearby hospital in La Jolla . He had extensive injuries all over his torso, left arm, and wrist, but after emergency surgery and days of recovery, he's out of the hospital and healing at home.

Caleb is grateful not only for the men who saved him but also for the local community which has supported him and his family through his recovery.

"I have a beautiful community to lean on , and I'm very thankful," Caleb Adams told NBC News .

Shark Attacks in San Diego

According to the San Diego Reader , Caleb Adams is the 25th victim of a reported shark attack in San Diego County since 1950. Of these attacks, at least two were known to be fatal, while several others left their victims with major injuries. San Diego County has the most reported shark attack incidents of any California county, and while 25 reported attacks over 74 years isn't exactly frequent, it should inspire a little extra caution in San Diego beachgoers, especially after Adams' recent attack.

The odds of you ever being attacked by a shark are very slim, even during the busy summer season, but that doesn't mean you should let good common sense fall by the wayside. The Florida FWC's website has a great guide on basic shark safety that any beachgoer should read through before hitting the waves. If nothing else, take heed of their first tip and always swim in groups. There is strength in numbers, and as we saw in Caleb Adams' story, having companions nearby can make the difference between life and death during a serious shark attack!

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