US surfer survives after attack by great white shark

A man who was surfing off the California coast survived an attack by a juvenile great white shark.

The man, who is in his 50s, suffered minor injuries and was able to paddle himself to shore, supervising state park ranger Robert Colligan said.

The attack happened on Sundayat the Sand Spit Beach in Montana De Oro State Park just west of San Luis Obispo.

The man, who was surfing with a friend, was one of several people in the water, Colligan said.

“From what eyewitnesses said, the shark came up from underneath and hit him,” said Colligan, adding that witnesses described the shark as being about2.5m to 3.5m long.

The unidentified man, who lives in the San Luis Obispo area, was bitten on the right hip.

A medic who happened to be visiting the beach on his day off treated the injury until more help arrived.

The man was flown to a local hospital for medical treatment.

The beach remained open, but signs will be posted for three days warning the public of the attack, Colligan said.

Sharks are native to the area and Colligan said they are spotted several times a year.

He added that attacks like this are rare.

A woman swimming with seals was killed by a shark in 2003 approximately 6km south of the site of Sunday’s attack.