A 52-year-old woman who was bitten by a shark off the coast of Corona del Mar State Beach over Memorial Day weekend is recovering “remarkably well” at an Orange County Medical Center, officials said Tuesday.
Maria Korcsmaros was training for an upcoming half Iron Man triathlon Sunday when she was bitten by a shark and suffered traumatic injuries to her arm, torso and pelvis, Jeff Corless, a spokesman for the Santa Ana hospital said during a news conference.
The personal trainer and mother of three was taken to the hospital, underwent surgery and is now in stable condition.
Dr. Humberto Sauri, chief medical officer for trauma at the hospital, explained that Korcsmaros had a semi-circular bite mark that extended from her upper torso to her pelvis and multiple lacerations on her right arm, consistent with a shark bite.
Both Sauri and Dr. Phillip Rotter, chief medical officer for orthopedic trauma, described Korcsmaros as being calm after the ordeal.
Her physical agility and fitness may have contributed to her survival, the doctors said.
“Those are wounds would have bled a lot, and she was able to tread water and hold her own until help arrived,” Rotter said. “That’s pretty remarkable.”
A stretch of the coastline was evacuated and closed Sunday, but was partly reopened on Tuesday, officials said.
Newport Beach lifeguards are allowing swimming, surfing and other recreational uses in the ocean between the Balboa Pier and the Wedge. Ocean access from Corona del Mar State Beach to Crystal Cove State Beach remains closed. The section is expected reopen Wednesday morning unless searchers observe shark activity in the area.