Christine SlusserThe Dwight Crum Pier-to-Pier Swim is a 2-mile jaunt in the ocean with the threat of sharks, and this weekend, lightning. But that didn't stop people from hopping in the water.
Participants swim from Hermosa Beach to Manhattan Beach, both in the Los Angeles area. (Via YouTube / Los Angeles News Group)
But wouldn't the threat of sharks and lightning sound like enough to at least dampen turnout? (Via Jared Kelly / CC BY NC ND 2.0 | Mike / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
After all, the threats were very real. Steven Robles, who was bit by a shark last month near the Manhattan Beach Pier where the race ends, fired the opening shot. (Via CBS, KTLA, KCAL)
And just last week, a 20-year-old man was killed by a lightning strike at California's Venice Beach. (Via KTTV, KTLA, Hollywood Life)
To be fair, getting struck and killed by lightning is rare. Last week's incident was the first in the U.S. this year where it happened while someone was swimming. (Via National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)
However, it is always recommended to get out of the water if there's a threat of lightning, which USA Today reports was the case during Sunday's race.
"Thunderstorms again were in the forecast Sunday ... contingency plans were in place to end the race if strikes were reported nearby, but none materialized."
And how about the sharks? They're common around the piers.
Easy Reader News says several participants saw sharks while swimming between the piers.
More than 1,000 participants took part in the race. No injuries have been reported.
