Official report: Santa Cruz surfer was attacked by great white

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, Calif. (KION)

Ben Kelly, the 26-year-old surfer killed by a shark off Manresa State Beach last Saturday, was attacked by a great white - according to a news release from multiple agencies.

California State Parks, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and Long Beach State University’s (CSULB) Shark Lab report Thursday that a white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) is responsible for the May 9th attack.

They determined it was a great white through forensic analysis of DNA evidence from Kelly's wet suit and surfboard. CWFW and CSULB estimate the shark was between 10 and 12 feet in length.

The water was closed one miles north and south of the attack, but reopened Thursday - five days later, following State Parks protocol.

The group says there were no shark attacks on a human last year at any Santa Cruz County Beach.

A surfboard and flowers were placed on the beach as a memorial for Kelly, and a memorial fund was created to help support his wife.