A Northern California surfer miraculously survived a violent great white shark attack that snapped his surfboard in half, highlighting the dangers of solo water recreation as California shark encounters hit record levels under questionable marine protection policies.
Story Snapshot
- 26-year-old Tommy Civik escaped with minor injuries after a great white shark struck with car-like force near Gualala River mouth on January 13, 2026
- The attack shredded his surfboard and wetsuit while grazing his thigh, requiring stitches, but the board absorbed the brunt of the impact
- California experienced record-high shark incidents in 2025, following decades of marine protections that boosted predator populations
- Wildlife officials confirm attacks remain rare despite increasing encounters, advising against solo surfing in known shark habitats
Violent Attack Strikes Early Morning Surfer
Tommy Civik entered the waters off Mendocino County alone around 8:30 a.m. on January 13, telling his friend Marco Guerrero he would meet him in the surf. Within minutes, a suspected great white shark launched from below with devastating force, striking Civik’s surfboard and shattering it cleanly in half. The impact launched the 26-year-old surfer into the air while the predator’s teeth tore through his wetsuit and grazed his thigh, leaving marks that required stitches. Civik never saw the shark but described the sensation as being hit by a car.
Witness Describes Horrifying Scene From Sandbar
Guerrero watched the violent encounter unfold from a nearby sandbar, initially mistaking the thrashing for a seal attack. He described witnessing the shark strike with tremendous force before Civik swam toward shore using the remaining half of his destroyed surfboard. A bystander on the cliff called 911 at approximately 8:45 a.m., prompting South Coast Fire Protection District to dispatch Jet Skis for rescue. Chief Jason Warner, who comes from a multi-generational surfing family, expressed shock at the incident, stating that in 20 years of service, his team had never responded to a shark attack in the area.
Surfer’s Remarkable Self-Rescue and Recovery
Demonstrating extraordinary composure under life-threatening circumstances, Civik swam to shore unaided and walked out of the water around 9:00 a.m. He declined immediate medical evacuation, instead hugging Guerrero before driving himself to the hospital for treatment. California Department of Fish and Wildlife spokesperson Peter Tira confirmed that officials collected the destroyed surfboard and torn wetsuit for DNA analysis to confirm the attacking species. Civik later acknowledged his extraordinary luck, stating the board absorbed the full impact that could have proven fatal had the shark connected directly with his body.
Record Shark Activity Raises Safety Concerns
This incident marks California’s first shark encounter of 2026, following a troubling pattern of record-high shark activity throughout 2025. The previous month saw the fatal attack of swimmer Erica Fox in Monterey Bay on December 21, 2025, with her body recovered in January 2026. This represented the second fatal incident in Monterey Bay within three years, underscoring the growing risks as great white shark populations rebound from protections implemented in the 1990s. While wildlife officials emphasize that attacks remain statistically rare compared to the 1974 peak of seven injuries, the frequency of encounters has clearly increased. This trend directly results from environmental policies prioritizing predator recovery over human safety considerations, leaving recreational water users to navigate heightened dangers without adequate protective measures or beach monitoring systems that could prevent tragedies.
Officials Urge Caution in Shark Territory
The Gualala beach area where Civik was attacked represents prime great white shark habitat, with abundant seal populations attracting the apex predators. Great white sharks employ breaching tactics, launching rapidly from below to strike prey with stunning force, often mistaking surfers for seals. Tira advised water enthusiasts to avoid surfing alone and exercise extreme caution in areas with known shark activity. Despite the attack, no beach closures were implemented, contrasting with more aggressive safety protocols employed in other regions. The incident underscores a fundamental tension between marine conservation achievements and the practical safety needs of Americans who simply want to enjoy coastal recreation without fear of becoming prey to protected predators whose populations now thrive unchecked.
Sources:
Northern California surfer says shark attack felt ‘like being hit by a car’ as board snaps in half
California surfer escapes shark attack that shreds his board and wet suit
Shark attacks at record-breaking high in California
