Shark Attacks Man Attempting 20-Mile Swim From Catalina Island

A 54-year-old man was bit by a shark early Tuesday morning while attempting a 20-mile swim from Catalina Island to the Los Angeles County mainland.

The man — who was attempting the prestigious Catalina Channel swim — was bit by the shark near the island's Doctor's Cove. The swimmer was accompanied by a boat during the attempt; he was brought aboard the boat after the incident and the vessel headed toward the mainland, Fox 11 reported.

Firefighters and paramedics were dispatched at around 1:30 a.m.to a location about 12 miles off the coast of Catalina, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.

The swimmer had received first aid by the time the LAFD boat arrived, KTLA reported.

“He had minor wounds to his leg, and they were already wrapped up,” Fireboat Pilot Shaun Corby told KTLA. “We just grabbed the victim and transported him back to our station, and transported him to the hospital.

Authorities said the shark was likely a juvenile great white. The animal "just nipped at his leg, his foot. And then took off," Corby told Fox 11. He noted the violent encounter was a "rare" one.

The man was listed in fair condition at a hospital, according to the LAFD.

Swimming the Catalina Channel is among the most popular marathon swims in the world. It's part of the Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming, along with the English Channel swim and Swim Around Manhattan.

Over 700 people have successfully completed solo swims of the channel since 1927, according to the Catalina Channel Swimming Federation.

Swimmers often start at midnight in order to avoid afternoon winds. Most swimmers complete the majority of the feat in complete darkness, according to the federation.

City News Service contributed to this report.