Swimmer Killed by Shark in California

Wednesday, August 20th, 2003

Swimmer Killed by Shark in California explains why you shouldn’t swim with seals of the coast of San Luis Obispo while dressed in a wetsuit:

A 50-year-old college instructor taking a morning swim bled to death after she was attacked by a great white shark 15 to 18 feet long, preliminary autopsy results showed Wednesday.

Deborah Franzman of Nipomo was killed Tuesday as she swam 75 yards offshore alongside a group of seals. Witnesses reported seeing a large fin as Franzman screamed for help.

Lifeguards pulled Franzman to shore, where she died. Bite marks on her legs were consistent with those seen in previous attacks by great white sharks, San Luis Obispo County sheriff’s Lt. Martin Basti said.

Shark expert Robert Lea, present during the autopsy, estimated the fish was between 15 and 18 feet long.
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Franzman’s death marked the 10th fatal shark attack in California since 1952 and the first death since 1994, according to state Fish and Game records.

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