Mendocino teacher bitten by shark returns to surf same spot he was attacked

A shirtless person stands outdoors holding a weathered surfboard with peeling blue and yellow paint, near a white vehicle with a forested background under a clear blue sky. — James Eastman smiles with his board in hand before surfing at Big River Beach in Mendocino, Calif., on Thursday, July 16, 2026. Eastman was attacked by a shark at the same beach in March 2026, and has made strides in his recovery. (GoFundMe via Bay City News)

MENDOCINO CO., 7/16/26 — A Mendocino High School teacher who survived a shark attack in March at Big River Beach has made strides in his recovery over the past four months.

James Eastman, an English teacher at Mendocino High, was bit by a shark on both of his legs while he was surfing at Big River Beach in Mendocino on March 18, according to a GoFundMe campaign that says it was started for him to fund his medical bills. The fundraiser page says Eastman was able to fight off the shark, make it to shore and get life-saving aid from three off-duty lifeguards surfing nearby.