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.
Wednesday, Eastman shared an update that after two surgeries and months of recovery, he can walk again without a brace. Eastman also shared that on Wednesday, he returned to surf the same beach where the attack happened, as he decided that would be best for him mentally.
“It went well,” Eastman’s GoFundMe update reads. “It will be a while before he is at full strength and ability, but he had a fun session with a few friends.”
The fundraising goal for Eastman’s GoFundMe was $10,000 for medical expenses. As of Thursday, it has reached $13,806 raised.
Eastman announced that the extra money that was not used will go toward a newly formed nonprofit he and his wife started. The nonprofit is called The Minutes Matter Project and will put bleeding control kits at beaches with high traffic along the Mendocino Coast, Eastman announced. The nonprofit will also teach classes to train the community to use the kits.
Eastman’s update said that if the shark bite had been an inch over, it would have hit his artery, which could have been fatal in as little as minutes.
And to make matters worse, this idiot is teaching our children.