Uncle identifies man killed by shark in Morro Bay

I’ve started and ended a countless number days paddling out for sunrises and sunsets at The Pit. For some reason, we fool ourselves into thinking the beach is safer than the reef, but it can happen anywhere.

In recent years, with the popularity of drones, we’ve been shown how many sharks are in the water, right where we play. Believe it or not, I find that footage both comforting and validating. Comforting might not be what you expect, but honestly, seeing that they’ve always been there put into perspective how unlikely it is you’ll ever be bit, they know we’re there and usually they know we’re not food. Sadly though, not always. I say validating because the other thing that footage shows is those times, times every surfer and swimmer has experienced, when you get that spooked feeling, there was probably something to it. We have ALL come closer than we realize.

If you guys write more about Thomas Butterfield, maybe refer to him as a “bodyboarder”. Boogie boarder makes him sound like a nine year old kid. Bodyboarders are legitimately surfing, dropping in on all the same waves a traditional boarder does. In fact, dropping in on steeper faces and doing it head first. Mr Butterfield died in the surf and he died the death of a surfer. He deserves at least the respect of not being framed as some kook tourist.