Two paddleboarders had a terrifying encounter with a great white shark that stalked them off the coast of Santa Barbara on Sunday. The incident occurred as the pair were visiting family for Father’s Day weekend.
Initially, the paddleboarders had heard about a shark sighting and decided to investigate. An uncle of one of the paddleboarders used a drone to help them locate the shark. However, they eventually returned to shore, believing they had missed it. It was only later that drone footage revealed the shark had been tracking them.
Robert Kagan, one of the paddleboarders, described the experience as a mix of adrenaline and excitement, admitting that the situation became very real when he saw the shark. "As soon as I saw the shark I started telling Kayla [Ross]. … We were terrified going back to shore," he told ABC News.
Kayla Ross recounted Kagan telling her he saw something, but she had not seen it at first, as she was focused on paddling forward. "So we just went straight back. But that was a little nerve-racking," she added.
A similar incident involving a large shark occurred near Santa Cruz in early June, when a shark swam close to a surfer off the coast of Aptos. Shark sightings have become more frequent along California beaches, with experts anticipating a "sharky summer." This prediction is attributed to abnormally warm weather patterns and the onset of the El Niño cycle.