Shark bites Boy Scout near Catalina Island off California coast, rescuers say

A shark bit a kayaker near Catalina Island off Southern California early Wednesday morning, lifeguards say.

The youth, a Boy Scout, was kayaking with his father at Parson’s Landing when a shark bumped the kayak about 7:15 a.m., a Twitter post by Los Angeles County Fire Department Lifeguards said.

The boy put his hand in the water and was bitten by the shark, the officials said. A helicopter took the boy to the hospital in stable condition because of the remote location.

Scout officials identified the boy as a youth participant at a Boy Scout Camp in Emerald Bay, KTLA reported. They described his injuries as not life-threatening.

The boy’s father was unhurt, according to the station.

The size and species of the shark are not known. Shark experts will be consulted to try to identify the type of shark involved, lifeguards said.

Lifeguards cleared and closed the ocean for a mile in each direction, the post said. It will remain closed for at least 24 hours.

This story was originally published June 30, 2021 at 1:50 PM with the headline "Shark bites Boy Scout near Catalina Island off California coast, rescuers say."