SHARKS have picked off survivors waiting hours for rescue after their boat capsized, the US Coast Guard has revealed.
The vessel departed from Mexico and sank off the coast of Baja California on Friday with a mayday call transmitted at around 1am.
Officials are still searching for 11 people believed to be missing, with 16 Mexican nationals already taken to safety.
The Coast Guard said multiple survivors have been treated for shark bites after they were attacked in the water.
A rescue helicopter arrived at the site of the incident two hours after the distress call was made.
“Several of the individuals rescued were suffering from severe injuries consistent with shark bites, and the Coast Guard provided life-saving first aid while en route [to] San Diego,” said the agency on Saturday.
Meanwhile, a desperate search for those still missing remains underway.
The Coast Guard is being assisted by the Navy and the Mexican Navy as they scour the waters.
Multiple aircraft have also been deployed to scan from above.
A total of 27 people were believed to be onboard the vessel when it capsized.
Officials have said the incident occurred outside of US waters in a popular smuggling route that is also frequented by leisure and fishing vessels.
“We were able to help, and that’s why we launched our assets,” US Coast Guard spokesperson Petty Officer Charlie Valor said.
All survivors have been taken to San Diego and are confirmed to be Mexican nationals.
The Customs and Border Protection is investigating and interviewing them, the Coast Guard said.