The coronavirus pandemic couldn’t completely close down a California beach – but a shark just did.
A 26-year-old local man was surfing at Manresa State Beach near Santa Cruz when he was attacked a killed by a shark.
Due to social distancing rules, the beach was off-limits between 11am to 5pm but surfers and kayakers were allowed access to get to the water.
Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Department said Ben Kelly died at the scene.
The beach has now been completely closed for five days along a two mile stretch, the California parks and recreation department said.
The attack took place about 100 yards from shore by a shark of ‘unknown species.’
This area is known as a breeding ground for great whites but attacks are rare.
There have been two other deaths since the 1980s.
At the same time in Australia a French surfer fought off a shark at Bells Beach in the state of Victoria.
Dylan Nacass had a lucky escape and suffered only minor cuts which required stitches.
