Great white shark thwarts historic swim to Farallon Islands
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- A great white shark thwarted a Northern California man's quest to become he first person to swim from the Golden Gate Bridge to the Farallon Islands.
The Marin Independent Journal reports Thursday that Corte Madera marathon swimmer Simon Dominguez was trying to swim about 28 miles Wednesday afternoon when his teen daughter, in a support boat, spotted a great white shark just 3-1/2 miles from his goal.
After 18 hours in the frigid ocean, he reluctantly climbed into his support boat as the 12-to-15-foot great white circled the boat.
Out of the water, the 49-year-old, blood streaming down his chest from chafed skin around his neck, said he was disappointed that he didn't finish the swim.
Four swimmers have swum from the Farallon Islands to San Francisco.
He said he is not sure if he'll attempt the swim again.