Mendocino Teacher Fights Off Shark Attack; Community Rallies to Support His Recovery

A Northern California high school English teacher is recovering from a shark attack after fighting off a great white shark at Big River Beach — and his community is asking for help supporting his young family through a long, costly recovery.

James Eastman, 39, was surfing at Big River Beach inside Mendocino Headlands State Park on March 18th when the attack occurred just after 5 p.m. Speaking from his hospital bed, Eastman told Good Morning America he had been heading out for a quick surf before picking up his 9-month-old son from day care. When he spotted the shark, he said he struck it on the nose until it released him, then paddled to shore — where three off-duty lifeguards who were surfing nearby rushed to help.

Eastman was transported by ambulance to Adventist Hospital in Fort Bragg, where his wife Chloe works as an ER nurse. “I’m in the middle of work in the ER and I just like dropped to the ground like, ‘What?'” she told Good Morning America.

According to the GoFundMe, the attack left Eastman with severe tissue and muscle damage to both legs, and he is currently unable to bear weight on them. With surgery and physical therapy ahead, the fundraiser notes that the family faces significant medical bills, household expenses, and childcare costs while Eastman, a local high school English teacher, is out of work.

The GoFundMe also notes that surfing runs deep in the couple’s story — James taught Chloe to surf on their first date, and the two were married above Big River Beach. “The attack happening at Big River of all places hits even harder,” the fundraiser reads.

Despite his injuries, Eastman told Good Morning America he’s already thinking about the future: “I love surfing so much and I would be very sad if I didn’t surf again. As far as everything else is concerned, I was extremely lucky.”

The community has so far raised nearly $10,000 toward the family’s recovery.

Can you help? The verified GoFundMe is here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-james-recovery-after-shark-attack

Earlier: Shark Attack Reported at Big River Beach Near Mendocino this Evening