Surfer Injured by Great White Shark at Big River Beach

On the afternoon of March 18, 2026, a surfing incident occurred at Big River Beach in Mendocino County, California, involving an unprovoked encounter between a surfer and a great white shark. The victim, a 39-year-old male, was engaged in surfing in the Pacific Ocean when the incident took place at approximately 5:15 p.m. The surfer sustained moderate injuries to both legs and feet during the encounter. Emergency response and medical intervention followed, and the victim survived the incident. This classification as a non-fatal shark encounter reflects the outcome despite the severity of injuries sustained. The incident occurred in an area known for its cold Pacific waters and established surfing activity. Great white sharks inhabit these waters naturally, and unprovoked encounters, while rare relative to the number of ocean users, remain a recognized risk in coastal marine environments. This incident contributes to the documented record of shark-human interactions along the California coast and serves as a reference point for understanding the circumstances, locations, and outcomes of such encounters. The incident was recorded in the shark incident database without additional details regarding victim identity, specific medical treatment protocols, or recovery information.