An 8-foot-long great white shark was seen circling a surfer in West Newport Beach, forcing lifeguards to clear the water.
Officials said they verified the sighting at about 1:15 p.m. on Thursday, prompting an immediate safety response. Lifeguards cleared the ocean for one mile in both directions from the shark’s last known location.
“Shark sightings are rare along our coastline,” read an Instagram post shared by the Newport Beach Fire Department. “When observed, these animals are typically transiting through the area. Out of an abundance of caution, we ask that the public avoid the water in this vicinity until the all-clear is issued.”…