Sea Lion Bites Man, Pulls Him Underwater at Mission Bay Marina

A man is recovering after a sea lion bit his hand and pulled him off a boat and underwater, San Diego officials said.

The man was holding a fish on a docked boat in the Hyatt Mission Bay Marina Sunday afternoon when the sea lion, apparently attempting to get the fish, bit the man's arm and pulled him into the water by his hand, said Lee Swanson, a spokesman for the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department.

He was pulled under for about 20 seconds, though he did not take in any water. 

By the time rescue officials arrived, he was back in the boat. 

He was taken to Scripps La Jolla Hospital with cuts to his hand and arm. 

If you find a stranded sea lion, don’t approach the pup or try to feed it. Instead, call SeaWorld’s rescue line at 800-541-7325.

SeaWorld says it has been flooded with calls about the stranded pups. At this time, they will wait to come and rescue the pups because sometimes the animals will go back into the water on their own.

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