San Francisco park closed to swimmers after 3rd sea lion attack

SANFRANCISCO—That bracing morning dip in San Francisco Bay lost a bit of its allure Friday after a swimmer was bitten by what was reported as a sea lion at Aquatic Park — the second attack by a marine mammal in less than 24 hours and the third in a week.

The bloody attack sent a chill through the plucky community of cold-water lovers and prompted the National Park Service to close the popular cove for swimming.

The injured swimmer, identified as Rick Mulvihill, suffered a “severe bite’’ about 8 a.m. and was being treated at San Francisco General Hospital, said Lt. Jonathan Baxter of the San Francisco Fire Department.

“It hit him right here,’’ said Bob Roper, 79, pointing to the inside of his upper thigh.

Mr. Roper and Mr. Mulvihill are members of the South End Rowing Club, a 144-year-old group devoted to early morning bay swims.

On Thursday, another swimmer with the club was hospitalized in serious condition after being bitten in the arm by a sea lion, officials said.

The San Francisco Police Department’s Marine Unit pulled that swimmer out of the water about 2 p.m., according to authorities. Another member was bitten three or four days ago, but club officials said he didn’t require treatment.

“We are requesting that swimmers avoid Aquatic Park,’’ Lt. Baxter said.

The latest attack occurred as Mr. Mulvihill was swimming near the curved part of the breakwater pier, known to swimmers as “the Jacuzzi.’’ The creature apparently came up from underneath, bit him and swam off. He was pulled from the water by other swimmers who carried him to the street, where he was pickedup by an ambulance.

“I’ve been here 50 years and I’ve never heard of anything like this,’’ Mr. Roper said. “You have a lot of very, very nervous swimmers now and I don’t blame them.”