Shark Attack in California Injures 13-Year-Old Boy

A 13-year-old boy was taken to the hospital after being attacked by a shark near San Diego, California, over the weekend.

Fox5 in San Diego said the teen was attacked in the water by the shark, and NBC San Diego reported that he suffered injuries to his shoulder and ear.

He was rushed to Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego via helicopter.

The boy was attacked while diving for lobster near Neptune Avenue at the foot of Leucadia Boulevard on Sept. 29 at Beacon’s Beach in Encinitas, according to the Los Angeles Times.

He was taken into surgery when he got to the hospital, Dr. Tim Fairbanks, chief pediatric surgeon.

“This is a rare injury,” Fairbanks said in a brief news conference Saturday afternoon outside the emergency room. “This is not something we see much of, to be honest with you.”

Kayakers who saw the attack helped rescue the boy.

“I realized he was yelling, ‘I got bit, help, help!’” Chad Hamme told the LA Times.

“His whole clavicle was ripped open,” Hammel said of the boy. ”We told him he’s going to be OK, he’s going to be all right ... we got help. I yelled at everyone to get out of the water: ‘There’s a shark in the water!'”

“The shark was behind the kayak,” he told the paper. “He didn’t want to give up yet.”

The beach is now closed for 48 hours.

“We are working closely as a unified command with the California State Parks, California Fish and Game, San Diego County Sheriff’s Department, City of Solana Beach and the City of Carlsbad to ensure public safety,” said lifeguard Captain Larry Giles, Fox5 reported. “At this time, we have not received additional reports of any shark sightings in the area but are advising the public to stay out of the water.”