Man survives shark attack at Californian beach

A man who was attacked by a great white shark off a southern California beach has describing how quickly a routine swim turned into a nightmare.

Steven Robles was in the water off Manhattan Beach near Los Angeles when the 7ft juvenile shark suddenly appeared yesterday morning.

He told KABC-TV that the shark looked at him and “locked into my chest”.

Mr Robles was taken to shore and was released from hospital this morning.

Witnesses said the shark had been hooked by a fisherman on a nearby pier and was thrashing in the water for more than 30 minutes before biting Mr Robles about 300 yards off shore.

The beach, crowded over the July 4 holiday weekend, was later reopened.