California Surfer Suffers Serious Injuries After Great White Shark Attack

A 39-year-old surfer was seriously injured on Saturday after being bitten by a great white shark 20 miles south of San Francisco. The 6-8 foot shark bit the victim in the back of his right thigh and swam off.

According to NBC:

Thomas Masotta said he was fishing on the shoreline when he spotted the wetsuit-clad victim emerge from the water and walk toward him.

“He called out to me, then collapsed,” Masotta said by email. “He was rolling around on the ground and said he wasn’t in a lot of pain but was worried that he was losing a lot of blood.”

The witness said he tried to call 911 but had difficulties reaching operators because the beach is on a relatively remote stretch of coastline.

“So we tied off his wound with straps from my backpack and elevated his leg,” Masotta continued. “Then I ran up to the road and was able to make another call to 911.”

The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection treated the victim with advanced life support measures at the scene of the attack. ABC News says the 39-year-old surfer has since been released from the hospital.