NEWPORT BEACH – A woman was transported by ambulance Sunday afternoon to an area hospital following what was initially reported by authorities as a possible shark attack.

The 4:15 p.m. incident off the coast of Corona del Mar State Beach is being investigated by Newport Beach lifeguards.

Lifeguards in a boat on routine patrol spotted a female swimmer in a wet suit in distress, Tara Finnigan, spokeswoman for the city of Newport Beach, said.

The woman, who waved her arms and yelled for help, was swimming about 150 yards off shore just outside of a protected area where boats are not allowed, said Newport Beach Chief Lifeguard Rob Williams.

Boats are not allowed in the protected swimming area.

The area is a popular training spot for long distance swimmers, though it’s unknown if the woman was there for that purpose, he added.

When lifeguards reached the woman they found her bleeding heavily from wounds to her arm and shoulder consistent with an animal bite, Finnigan said. She was conscious and talked with emergency responders.

The woman was transported by ambulance to Orange County Global Medical Center in Santa Ana, where detailed information about her condition was not immediately available Sunday night.

Orange County Global Medical Center officials could not release specific information about the woman’s condition Sunday night, but authorities confirmed they are not expected to be life threatening.

David Smythe, of Moreno Valley, was spending time with his family at the beach when lifeguards started telling people to get out of water following the incident.

“I was very nervous because my nieces were down here,” he said. “So the first thing I did was run and say, ‘Hey, get out of water.’ Second thing I did was I went to lifeguards and asked what was going on. They said ‘I can’t tell you. All I can say is there’s blood out there somewhere in the water. We need everybody out of the water.'”

Though emergency dispatchers said the initial call came in as a shark attack, lifeguards were initially unable to confirm what happened, Finnigan said.

They also haven’t been able to determine if another animal, such as a sea lion, may have bitten her, Finnigan said.

Lifeguards have ruled out the possibility the woman was injured by a boat or other watercraft, she added.

Personnel aboard a police helicopter did not spot a shark or sea lion in the water Sunday afternoon in the area where the woman was found, she added.

A three-mile stretch from Corona del Mar State Beach to Newport Pier remained closed to swimmers Sunday night.

Lifeguards will re-evalaute early Monday whether all or a portion of the stretch will be reopened, Finnigan said

Contact the writer: 714-796-7767 sschwebke@ocregister.com Twitter: @thechalkoutline