A kayaker's great white attack upended his small boat, and because of the shark, he will probably avoid the ocean for some time.
Kayaker Joey Nocchi, 30, along with friends James Byon and Matt Kerschke were out fishing Saturday in Cambria, California when their boat was attacked by what was believed to be a great white shark. The shark bit the boat so hard that Nocchi flew from it, landing in the water close to the predator.
"I got hit from underneath and started coming up out of the water," Nocchi told the San Luis Obispo County Tribune. "My buddies said I came out of the water 4 to 5 feet -- it flipped me over the side. The shark rolled the whole kayak over, rolled me out of it, and he went over the top of it. He swam across me -- his tail touched me."
Because Nocchi had flown into the water, he couldn't see the shark coming for him, but Byon and Kerschke alleged that the animal was ready to kill him.
The great white "came all the way out of the water, jaws open, extra eyelids closed like they do when they're making a kill strike," said the Paso Robles fisherman. His friends estimated the predator to be from 12 to 14 feet long.
The bite the great white took out of the kayak was about 22 inches wide, according to the men, which had capsized the small boat. While Kerschke attempted to get to the paddle, Nocchi swam back to the kayak.
"I swam back as fast as I could and got back on the back of the kayak. I didn't even think to turn it back over," he told The Tribune.
Nocchi realized being on the boat did not ensure his safety, however. After getting the paddle, he headed back to shore with the kayak taking on water. He realized how important it was that he fished with friends, and made a decision regarding the incident.
"I'll be bass fishing for a while, probably from the shore," said Nocchi.
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