Sea Lion Attacks Teenage Girl in Long Beach (Video)

Originally posted on SURFER | By Dashel Pierson | Last updated Apr 1, 2025 2:35 PM ET

A teenage girl was attacked, Sunday, in the waters off Long Beach by an aggressive sea lion. The 15-year-old was participating in a swim test for the local cadet lifeguard program, when the marine mammal bore its teeth, tussled, and scratched the victim. Luckily, her injuries were minor.

“Out of nowhere, I felt something biting and grabbing my arm over and over again,” Phoebe Beltran told KTLA 5. “I see just like the shadow of it. I had no idea what it was. All I was thinking was, ‘please don’t be a shark. Please don’t take off my arm. And please don’t kill me.’”

The attack comes amidst an historic toxic algae bloom in Southern California, which is causing marine mammals – including sea lions and dolphins – to get sick, and occasionally aggressive.

“I love the beach,” added Beltran. “I love the ocean. I love swimming. So, when went in, I was like, ‘okay…easy swim out, easy swim back. It wasn’t that easy. I didn’t think something like this could ever happen.”

Recently, just over a week ago, another sea lion attack went down to the north in Ventura County. Surfer RJ LaMendola was mauled by what he described as a “demonic” sea lion when he was in the water. In terrifying detail LaMendola explained the entire incident:

“It started as an ordinary session, just me and my board, about 150 yards from the shore, riding the waves in solitude. The ocean was calm, the rhythm of the swells familiar—until, out of nowhere, a sea lion erupted from the water, hurtling toward me at full speed. Its mouth gaped wide, teeth flashing, and its eyes locked onto me with an unsettling ferocity. My heart lurched as I instinctively yanked my board to the side, paddling frantically to evade it as it barreled forward, intent on crashing into me.”

All of this comes during a massive toxic algae bloom, with experts calling it the “worst ever recorded.” And all that toxic algae causes domoic acid, which, according to NOAA:

“Domoic acid not only contaminates shellfish, but can poison marine mammals such as California sea lions that consume contaminated fish. The toxin accumulates in their bodies—causing seizures, other unpredictable behavior, brain damage, and death.”

This article first appeared on SURFER and was syndicated with permission.

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