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Mexican nationals involved in failed migrant smuggling attempt off the California coast suffered injuries consistent with shark bites, according to officials.
16 of the 27 people were rescued after a boat capsized off the California coast early Friday morning fought off sharks in open waters and many were bitten.
“Sixteen people have been rescued and transported to Coast Guard Sector San Diego, where emergency medical services personnel transferred them to local hospitals for further medical evaluation. Two of the sixteen individuals rescued were confirmed to be Mexican nationals,” the United States Coast Guard (USCG) said on Friday.
While 16 people were rescued, the survivors “were holding onto each other, to debris, just treading and trying to stay above water before being rescued,” according to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.
At least one person was being treated for a suspected shark bite and two others were in critical condition.
The survivors were found after a call came in from a boat around 1 a.m. on Friday after the vessel capsized about 140 miles west of Ensenada, Mexico.
USCG also suggested that the ship may have been involved in a maritime smuggling operation.
“The vessel had a large number of people onboard and was following a route normally used in illegal maritime smuggling operations. Offshore conditions are unforgivable and can quickly result in death,” said Captain Robert Tucker, commander, Coast Guard Sector San Diego.
A San Diego City spokesperson also told NBC San Diego that a human smuggling boat was at the scene.
The Friday incident came after a series of smuggling operations off the Southern California coast occurred.
Federal agents intercepted a vessel carrying 14 suspect illegal migrants from Mexico off the coast of Newport Harbor on October 3.
A boat carrying 21 illegal migrants were also caught after trying to enter Southern California in early-August. A 56-year-old man was found unresponsive and later died.