Juvenile great white shark rescued after young man waded into surf in his underwear

A 20-year-old fisherman at Hermosa Beach stripped to his underwear and waded into the surf to cut a hook from a juvenile great white shark, then helped return it to the water, according to video and local reports.

Kevin Phan, 20, was fishing from the Hermosa Beach pier on Wednesday morning when he realized a juvenile great white shark had been hooked. Waves washed the shark onto the beach and Phan stripped down to his underwear to wade into the surf and try to remove the hook. Footage shows him using scissors to cut the line while onlookers and a lifeguard watched from the pier and beach. After the line was cut, Phan and a lifeguard pushed the shark back into the surf and it swam away. Known details: - The incident occurred around 9 a.m. at the Hermosa Beach pier, according to reports. - Kevin Phan, 20, recognized the catch as a great white shark, a species protected under California fishing rules. - Waves washed the juvenile shark onto the sand; Phan removed clothing to enter the water and used scissors to cut the fishing line. - A lifeguard arrived and assisted in pushing the shark back into the surf; the animal swam away. - Phan reportedly suffered minor cuts and scrapes but was otherwise OK, and studies note juvenile great white sharks often gather near shore to feed on small fish and pose a low risk to swimmers. Summary: The immediate impact was that the juvenile shark was freed and returned to the water and the rescuer sustained only minor injuries. The article notes that great white sharks are protected under California rules. Undetermined at this time.