California surfer killed by shark, beach-goers ordered to stay out of the water for 24 hours

A surfer in California's Central Coast died in a shark attack on Christmas Eve, authorities announced.

Just before 11 a.m. Friday, a male surfer was pronounced dead at State Parks Beach in Morro Bay, California, a popular beach town.

The victim was pulled from the ocean after suffering an apparent shark attack, the Morro Bay Police Department said in a news release. 

Another surfer located the body and assisted him before first responders arrived, the San Luis Obispo Tribune reported. It has been almost three years since a shark attack was last reported in San Luis Obispo County, according to the newspaper.

The San Luis Obispo County Coroners Office is working to identify the victim as State Parks officials investigate the deadly incident.

'Thought it was my last day’:Spear fisher tells story of fighting off shark attack in Australia

'It's a freaking dinosaur':Viral video shows huge alligator eating a smaller alligator

Beaches in Morro Bay and the State Parks area remained open, but authorities ordered beach-goers to stay out of the water through Saturday afternoon.

Joshua Yeager is a reporter with the Visalia Times-Delta and a Report for America corps member. He covers Tulare County news deserts with a focus on the environment and local governments.