A shark has attacked a woman in the waters off San Diego.
The woman was treated in hospital for stab wounds and lacerations to her upper right thigh, according to Del Mar Lifeguard Captain Jon Edelbrock.
The woman had stitches and is recovering.
Mr Edelbrock said shark Possibly a juvenile great white shark, although officials are waiting for scientists to confirm this.
Juvenile great white sharks often swim in the waters of the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Del Mar.
Mr Edelbrock said the woman and a friend were spotted by a lifeguard as they returned to shore just after 10am on Friday after swimming more than a mile.
When they were a few hundred metres from the beach, but outside the surf zone, he noticed a change in their brushstrokes and friends waving their arms for help.
He said lifeguards helped them get back to shore but no sharks were found.
Beaches have been closed for at least 48 hours.
“She has a diligent swimming partner,” Mr Edel Bullock said. “Both of them kept their composure very well.”
Del Mar is located approximately 20 miles (32 km) north of downtown San Diego.
An 8-foot juvenile great white shark washed up on the shores of Torrey Pines State Nature Reserve and State Beach, nearly 3 miles south, on Sunday, local media reported.