A String of Shark Attacks in San Diego | When Sharks Attack

[Music] It's just a really tight-knit ocean loving community. Uh, everybody generally has the same sort of healthy ocean lifestyle vibe. It's what makes this area so unique.

Scott Bass has called San Diego home for over 40 years. "I love living here; you're so close to what really amounts to the largest national park that we have, which is the uh, Pacific Ocean. It provides a lot of fulfillment."

San Diego is a coastal oasis for its beautiful shoreline and marine wildlife. Just below the surface is a coastal view of iconic animals like the California sea lion and the official state marine fish, the hard-to-miss Garibaldi. But sitting atop the food chain are sharks. Historically, interactions between sharks and humans are rare, but in 2008, a horrifying incident occurs.

"There was a lot of disbelief. This hadn't happened in San Diego in over 50 years. It was a sad day."

It felt like summertime; it was a beautiful San Diego day in the early morning. Scott Bass was paddle boarding along Fletcher Cove, about 15 miles north of the city of San Diego. He's near a group of triathletes in training. Among them is retired veterinarian Dr. Dave Martin.

Dr. Martin was swimming with his triathlete group; they were approximately 150 yards off of the surf line. But somewhere below the group, a predator takes aim. A shark sinks its teeth into Dr. Martin's legs and launches him out of the water. He screams for help; everyone in the water is stunned.

"It was very surreal. People were scared."

Dr. Martin disappears underwater. [Music] Finally, the shark releases its hold, and the group pulls Dr. Martin back to shore. First responders race into action.

"I remember the helicopter came right above me and just boomed down on me. There's been a shark attack, please get out of the water immediately!"

But for Dr. Martin, the injuries to his legs are too severe. Before he can be transported to a hospital, he succumbs to his [Music] injuries.

The tragedy captures the attention of Southern California residents. "There was a lot of police there, there was a lot of media there, there was a lot of shock, there was a lot of sadness, there was a lot of despair."

News outlets cover it worldwide. "You know it's a big deal; there hasn't been a shark attack, a fatal shark attack, in San Diego in something like 50 years."

Residents are stunned. Since 1970, the area has averaged about one attack every three years, but Dr. Martin's fatal incident in 2008 is just the harbinger of things to come. In 2009, a sudden spike takes hold: six attacks in only seven months. "I'm sure any number of parents were concerned. People were trying to figure it out."

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