The toxicity of this particular bloom seems to be a lot higher, ” said a marine biologist. “Animals are in worse shape than they have been in the past.”

A 15-year-old girl was attacked during her swim test in Long Beach by a sea lion sickened by a recent toxic algae bloom, according to the girl's family.

Phoebe Beltran was swimming about 25 feet off the coast of Long Beach in California on Sunday, March 30 when the incident occurred

A 15-year-old Long Beach girl is recovering from a sea lion attack that happened while she was swimming over the weekend at Alamitos Beach.

Marine experts say these attacks are not common, but are happening more often. That’s due to a toxic algae bloom that are poisoning marine mammals, making them become aggressive and violent as they travel to shallow water and get closer to humans.

Phoebe Beltran, a hopeful cadet for the Long Beach Fire Department Junior Lifeguard Program, was taking a swimming test as part of her training on Monday when “out of nowhere, I feel something biting my arm,” Beltran told KTLA.

15-year-old Phoebe Beltran has several cuts on her right arm and was hospitalized following the confrontation with the animal on Sunday. Although she has since been released from the hospital and was well enough to return to school, she said the attack has left her shaken up.