Teen girl bitten by sea lion during lifeguard tryout in California

In Southern California, a 15-year-old girl named Phoebe Beltran experienced an unexpected encounter with a sea lion while swimming at Alamitos Beach during her junior lifeguard tryout. On a Sunday morning, Phoebe was approximately 25 feet from the shore, engaged in the last segment of her 1,000-yard swim, when she suddenly felt an acute pain in her right arm. Initially assuming it was a shark, due to the shock of being bitten, she recalled pleading in her thoughts for the creature not to inflict severe harm. The situation escalated quickly, as she sensed a shadow beneath her in the water but was too frightened to confront whatever was attacking her. After enduring multiple bites, she managed to cry out for assistance, prompting nearby lifeguards and her mother to rush to her aid as she made her way back to the sand, visibly shaken and injured. Witness accounts indicate that a sea lion was spotted in close proximity to where Phoebe was swimming, leading to a belief that the aquatic mammal was responsible for the attack. Lifeguards and emergency officials were stunned by the incident, a rarity in their experience, expressing disbelief at the nature of the attack given that sea lions usually exhibit non-aggressive behavior. The Long Beach Fire Department's Gonzalo Medina remarked that in his 25 years of service, he had never heard of such an occurrence. Despite being released from the hospital after receiving treatment for wounds on her arm, Phoebe remained anxious but resolute in her commitment to continue pursuing her goal of becoming a junior lifeguard. The possibility of the sea lion being affected by toxic algae blooms, which have increased in the region, was also discussed among local authorities. Such environmental factors can lead to unusual behavior in marine animals, although it was uncertain whether the specific animal that attacked Phoebe displayed any signs of illness. Previous reports indicated that more than 50 sea lions had been affected by a domoic acid outbreak earlier in the month in Malibu. With the increase in sea lion sightings on the California coast, conversations around public safety and marine life behavior remain on the rise. Phoebe's determination shines through despite the traumatic event, as she expresses the intent to return to the ocean and complete her swim tryout, demonstrating a powerful resilience in the face of fear. In contrast to the rare nature of this incident, there have been isolated reports of sea lion aggressions in the surrounding areas, with at least one other instance of a sea lion biting a surfer occurring in Oxnard. The mixed reactions from local populations and the necessity for ongoing public awareness about marine wildlife interactions emphasize the delicate balance between human activity and nature, particularly in regions where sea life and people frequently intersect.