Section of Newport Beach still closed after shark attack

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. (KABC) -- A section of Newport Beach was closed to the public Monday, after a shark attacked a woman Sunday.

Ocean access along the stretch of beach from the Balboa Pier south to the city's border with Crystal Cove State Beach is closed Monday. That is a slightly different stretch of beach that was closed after the initial report of the attack, when officials closed access from Newport Pier to Corona del Mar State Beach.

Hospitals officials have now confirmed that it was a shark that attacked the woman Sunday around 4:15 p.m. about 150 yards offshore from Corona del Mar State Beach. They did not say what type of shark, but expect to provide more information at a news conference Tuesday.

Lifeguards reported the woman was found bleeding heavily from wounds to her shoulder and upper torso which officials believed were consistent with shark bites. Authorities searched the area but were unable to spot the creature.

Officials initially could not confirm that the woman's wounds were made by a shark, but they have now determined that to be the case, according to Jeff Corless, a spokesman with the Orange County Global Medical Center.

Even before confirmation, lifeguards were operating as if it were a shark attack.

"We are treating this as a shark-bite incident and are asking everyone to please stay out of the water in the closure area. We've resumed our search of the water by boat this morning and a police helicopter will be also helping us," said Chief Lifeguard Rob Williams of the Newport Beach Fire Department's Marine Operations Division.