A man Saturday morning was bitten by a shark at Gray Whale Cove in San Mateo County.
The attack occurred at 9:15 a.m, after which firefighters and first responders were called out to a reported medical emergency.
Lt. Eamonn Allen with the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office told KCBS Radio that the 35-year-old man was either swimming or skin diving, and that by the man's report, he was bit by a "six to eight foot Great White Shark from the lower leg."
The man said he then was able to swim up to shore, at which point he approached a bystander nearby and asked them to call 911. Lt. Allen said he was transported to a local Stanford Medical Center.
CAL FIRE added that the man is in serious condition.
Lt. Allen said that this incident came as a surprise.
"I've worked for the office for 18 years, including several years in coast side patrol and this is one of the first times I can remember something like this happening in quite some time," he said.
While it is currently unclear whether the swimmer was taken by surprise, Lt. Allen said that Great White Sharks are known for "taking a little bite" to see if what they are biting is prey.
As of Saturday afternoon, California State Parks has closed the beach out of an abundance of caution, with no indication of when it will reopen.
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